The prime objective of the EUMETSAT Polar System (EPS) Metop
mission series is to provide continuous, long-term datasets, in
support of operational meteorological and environmental
forecasting and global climate monitoring. The EPS programme
consists of a series of three polar orbiting Metop satellites,
to be flown successively for more than 14 years, from 2006,
together with the relevant ground facilities. Metop-A was
launched on 19 October 2006 and Metop-B was launched on 17
September 2012. Metop carries a set of 'heritage' instruments
provided by the United States and a new generation of European
instruments that offer improved remote sensing capabilities to
both meteorologists and climatologists. The new instruments will
augment the accuracy of temperature humidity measurements,
readings of wind speed and direction, and atmospheric ozone
profiles. NWP is the basis of all modern global and regional
weather forecasting. The data generated by the instruments
carried by Metop can be assimilated directly into