Fengyun Meteorological Satellite Products for Earth System Science Applications

Abstract

Following the progress of satellite data assimilation in the 1990s, the combination of meteorological satellites and numerical models has changed the way scientists understand the earth. With the evolution of numerical weather prediction models and earth system models, meteorological satellites will play a more important role in earth sciences in the future. As part of the space-based infrastructure, the Fengyun (FY) meteorological satellites have contributed to earth science sustainability studies through an open data policy and stable data quality since the first launch of the FY-1A satellite in 1988. The capability of earth system monitoring was greatly enhanced after the second-generation polar orbiting FY-3 satellites and geostationary orbiting FY-4 satellites were developed. Meanwhile, the quality of the products generated from the FY-3 and FY-4 satellites is comparable to the well-known MODIS products. FY satellite data has been utilized broadly in weather forecasting, climate and climate change investigations, environmental disaster monitoring, etc. This article reviews the instruments mounted on the FY satellites. Sensor-dependent level 1 products (radiance data) and inversion algorithm-dependent level 2 products (geophysical parameters) are introduced. As an example, some typical geophysical parameters, such as wildfires, lightning, vegetation indices, aerosol products, soil moisture, and precipitation estimation have been demonstrated and validated by in-situ observations and other well-known satellite products. To help users access the FY products, a set of data sharing systems has been developed and operated. The newly developed data sharing system based on cloud technology has been illustrated to improve the efficiency of data delivery.

摘要

从上世纪90年代起,卫星资料同化得到快速发展,气象卫星和数值模式的结合改变了科学家研究地球的方式。随着数值天气预报模型和地球系统模型的发展,气象卫星将在未来的地球科学研究中扮演更加重要的角色。从1988年第一颗风云气象卫星FY-1A成功发射开始,风云气象卫星作为空基观测的重要组成部分,以其开放的数据政策和高质量的数据产品,为地球科学研究做出了持续的贡献。目前,新一代极轨气象卫星风云三号和新一代静止轨道气象卫星风云四号的地球观测能力得到大幅提升,产品质量也可以与著名的MODIS卫星相媲美。风云气象卫星产品已广泛应用于天气预报、气候和气候变化研究以及环境灾害监测。本文系统回顾了风云气象卫星搭载的地球观测仪器及其生成的一级数据和二级产品,列举了森林火点、闪电、植被指数、气溶胶土壤湿度以及降水等地球物理参数产品的特性和精度验证结果。同时,多种数据共享方式得以建成和运行,以帮助用户更好地运用风云气象卫星产品。新一代风云气象卫星数据共享平台将基于公有云技术提供更加快速的数据服务。