Europe is gearing up for a groundbreaking meteorological revolution! With 29 out of 30 member states on board, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) has secured overwhelming support for its ambitious polar satellite constellation, EPS-Sterna. But here’s where it gets exciting: this project promises to revolutionize weather forecasting and climate monitoring across the continent.
The programme’s approval is a testament to the dedication of EUMETSAT’s members and partners, who recognized the need for enhanced meteorological capabilities in the face of increasingly extreme weather events. And the timing couldn’t be more crucial. Recent years have seen Europe grapple with record-breaking heatwaves, destructive storms, floods, and wildfires, underscoring the importance of accurate weather predictions and climate data.
EPS-Sterna is designed to deliver an astonishing €30 billion in economic value over its lifetime, with a benefit-cost ratio of 51:1. This investment will empower national weather services to significantly improve their forecasts, leading to better-informed decisions that can save lives, enhance resilience, and boost economies. And this is the part most people miss: the programme’s impact will extend far beyond weather predictions.
The constellation will consist of 20 satellites, with the first six launching in 2029. These satellites will be strategically positioned to provide near-global coverage approximately every five hours, a remarkable improvement over current polar satellite systems. But what sets EPS-Sterna apart is its ability to observe the Earth’s atmosphere through clouds, rain, and snow, thanks to advanced microwave sounders. This capability will enable meteorologists to fill critical data gaps over the rapidly warming Arctic region, where many weather systems affecting Europe are born or intensify.
Building on the success of the European Space Agency’s Arctic Weather Satellite (AWS), EPS-Sterna is poised to reduce forecast errors by up to 6% across Europe and a staggering 9% in the Arctic. This level of accuracy will allow for more precise predictions of storm paths, precipitation patterns, and temperature extremes, helping communities prepare for and respond to weather events more effectively.
Controversy arises when considering the potential environmental impact of launching and maintaining such a large constellation. While the benefits to weather forecasting and climate monitoring are undeniable, the environmental implications of space debris and the energy required for satellite operations are essential aspects to consider. How can we ensure that the benefits of EPS-Sterna outweigh any potential environmental drawbacks?
The programme’s implementation is set to begin soon, with EUMETSAT procuring the satellites through the European Space Agency (ESA) and managing the constellation and ground infrastructure. The data collected will be distributed through established platforms, ensuring accessibility and transparency.
As Europe prepares for this meteorological transformation, the question remains: how will EPS-Sterna shape the future of weather forecasting and climate resilience, and what role will it play in addressing the challenges posed by our changing climate?