SEVIRI, the new imager for Meteosat second generation

The “Spinning Enhanced Visible and InfraRed Imager” will be flown on the Meteosat second generation satellites. The mission objectives and major performance requirements are presented. The features of the 12 channels covering a wide spectral range from 0.5 μm in the visible region to 14 μm in the infrared domain are described, as are their respective meteorological applications. The instrument design and operating principle are described. Telescope and scan assembly, focal plane and cooler assembly, and instrument control and data handling are the most challenging optical instrumentation technologies. Expected instrument radiometric performances are summarised; improved spatial, temporal, spectral and radiometric resolutions will allow the image data to be used in future numerical weather prediction processes. The overall programme development plan foresees the manufacturing and testing of 4 satellites, the first launch being planned for the end of the nineties. The baseline instrument design presented in the paper has been carried out during the phase A study under an ESA contract