China's FY-3G commences space-based atmospheric precipitation measurements

China's FY-3G commences space-based atmospheric precipitation measurements
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jan 26, 2024
Researchers from the China Meteorological Administration have achieved a significant milestone in Earth observation with the successful deployment of the FengYun 3G (FY-3G) satellite, a novel technology designed to collect detailed precipitation data from space. This satellite represents the first of two planned missions aimed at improving our understanding of global precipitation patterns, including in areas where ground-based measurements are challenging, such as over oceans and complex terrains.

The FY-3G satellite, the first active precipitation measurement satellite developed by China, stands out for its capability to assess the three-dimensional structure of rainfall and other forms of precipitation. This feature is particularly crucial for studying weather systems in the Earth's middle and lower latitudes. Peng Zhang, the leading scientist of the FY-3 polar orbiting meteorological satellite program at the National Satellite Meteorological Center in Beijing, China, emphasized the satellite's successful launch and the completion of its commission tests, highlighting its excellent performance in providing high-precision observation data of global precipitation.

Equipped with a suite of remote sensing instruments, FY-3G marks a new era in rainfall satellite missions, being the third of its kind globally. The satellite's active remote sensing precipitation measurement radar (PMR) works in conjunction with the passive microwave imager MWRI-RM, optimized to detect weaker precipitation and solid forms of precipitation over land. Additionally, an optical imaging instrument, the MERSI-RM, assists in measuring clouds and precipitation.

An innovative inclusion in the satellite's instrumentation is the GNOS-II, which leverages variations in global navigation satellite system (GNSS) data to measure atmospheric conditions such as temperature, humidity, and sea surface speed from space. The satellite also houses a short-wave infrared polarized multi-angle imager (PMAI) and a high radiometric accuracy on-board calibrator (HAOC), enhancing its observational capabilities.

The primary instrument of FY-3G, the active precipitation measurement radar PMR, is pivotal in creating a three-dimensional rendering of falling precipitation. This data is crucial for calculating precipitation intensity and type, which significantly improves the accuracy of measurements taken from space. Zhang highlighted that FY-3G and the Global Position Measurement (GPM) satellite can form a virtual constellation in orbit, substantially enhancing global precipitation measurement and research capabilities. He further noted that FY-3G's global observation data are freely available to users worldwide through the Fengyun Satellite Data Center.

The data collected by FY-3G is expected to enhance our understanding of global precipitation patterns, thus aiding in better interpretation and prediction of the Earth's water and energy cycles. This information is particularly valuable for forecasting extreme weather events and informing the development of the next generation precipitation satellite, FY-5.

The team behind FY-3G is encouraged by the initial data received from the satellite. However, they acknowledge that more data processing work is required to fully understand the satellite's capacity and potential future applications. Zhang indicated plans to accelerate the development of a precipitation event database and data set based on FY-3G satellite data. Efforts to improve the quantitative inversion accuracy of active radar precipitation and to strengthen the global data service of the FY-3G satellite are also underway, along with the continued promotion of the follow-up satellite development plan to ensure continuous precipitation observation.

Research Report:FY-3G Satellite Instruments and Precipitation Products: First Report of China's Fengyun Rainfall Mission In-Orbit