CEOS EO HANDBOOK – INSTRUMENT SUMMARY - FCI -
Full Name Flexible Combined Imager Status Being developed
Instrument Agencies EUMETSAT, ESA Maturity
Instrument Type Imaging multi-spectral radiometers (vis/IR) Geometry Earth disk scanning
Instrument Technology Multi-purpose imaging Vis/IR radiometer Sampling Imaging
Data Access Open Access Data Format NetCDF, BUFR (subset)
Measurements and Applications Measurements of cloud cover, cloud top height, precipitation, cloud motion, vegetation, radiation fluxes, convection, air mass analysis, cirrus cloud discrimination, tropopause monitoring, stability monitoring, total ozone and sea surface temperature.
Resolution Summary VIS0.4=1.0 km, VIS0.5=1.0 km, VIS0.6=1.0 km & 0.5 km, VIS0.8=1.0 km, VIS0.9=1.0 km, NIR1.3=1.0 km, NIR1.6=1.0 km, NIR2.2=1.0 km & 0.5 km, IR3.8=2.0 km & 1.0 km, WV6.3=2.0 km, WV7.3=2.0 km, IR8.7=2.0 km, IR9.7=2.0 km, IR10.5=2.0 km & 1.0 km, IR12.3=2.0 km,
[Best Resolution: 500m]
Swath Summary 210 km swath moved alternately W-E and E-W, moving up S-N a swath width at the end of each swath. Full Disc Coverage (FDC) or Local Area Coverage (LAC) possible.
[Max Swath: 210 km]
Accuracy Summary Cloud cover: 10%, Cloud top height: 1 km, Cloud top temperature: 1 K, Cloud type: 8 classes, Surface temperature: 0.7-2.0K, Specific humidity profile: 10%, Wind profile (horizontal component): 2 - 10 m/s, Long wave Earth surface radiation: 5 W/m2
Waveband Summary VIS0.4=0.414 - 0.474 µm, VIS0.5=0.49 - 0.53 µm, VIS0.6=0.615 - 0.665 µm, VIS0.8=0.84 - 0.89 µm, VIS0.9=0.904 - 0.924 µm, NIR1.3=1.365 - 1.395 µm, NIR1.6=1.585 - 1.635 µm, NIR2.2=2.225 - 2.275 µm, IR3.8=3.6 - 4 µm, WV6.3=5.8 - 6.8 µm, WV7.3=7.1 - 7.6 µm, I
VIS (~0.40 µm - ~0.75 µm)
NIR (~0.75 µm - ~1.3 µm)
SWIR (~1.3 µm - ~3.0 µm)
MWIR (~3.0 µm - ~6.0 µm)
TIR (~6.0 µm - ~15.0 µm)
Instrument Measurements
Measurements Overview
CategoryParameter
AerosolsVolcanic ash
Atmospheric Humidity FieldsAtmospheric specific humidity (LT, HT, TC)
Atmospheric Temperature FieldsAtmospheric stability index
Atmospheric WindsWind profile (horizontal)
Cloud particle properties and profileCloud drop effective radius
Cloud optical depth
Cloud type, amount and cloud top temperatureCloud imagery
Cloud type
Cloud cover
Cloud top height
Cloud top temperature
Liquid water and precipitation ratePrecipitation intensity at the surface (liquid or solid)
Multi-purpose imagery (land)Fire fractional cover
OzoneO3 Mole Fraction
Radiation budgetDownward long-wave irradiance at Earth surface
Short-wave Earth surface bi-directional reflectance
Sea ice cover, edge and thicknessSea-ice cover
Sea-ice surface temperature
Snow cover, edge and depthSnow cover
Surface temperature (land)Land surface temperature
Surface temperature (ocean)Sea surface temperature
VegetationNormalized Differential Vegetation Index (NDVI)
Vegetation type
Thematic Links Global Climate Observing System Essential Climate Variables (GCOS ECVs)
ECVDescriptionProduct(s)ECV Inventory 3.0 Record(s)
Cloud Properties click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Earth Radiation Budget click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Fire click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Land Surface Temperature click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Ozone click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Precipitation click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Sea Ice click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Sea Surface Temperature click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Snow click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Water Vapour (upper air) click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Wind speed and direction (upper-air) click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Instrument Missions
MTG-I1 (imaging) - Meteosat Third Generation - Imaging Satellite 1 (2022 - 2031)
MTG-I2 (imaging) - Meteosat Third Generation - Imaging Satellite 2 (2026 - 2035)
MTG-I3 (imaging) - Meteosat Third Generation - Imaging Satellite 3 (2030 - 2039)
MTG-I4 (imaging) - Meteosat Third Generation - Imaging Satellite 4 (2034 - 2043)