China launches 2nd Olympic weather satellite

China successfully launched its Fengyun three Meteorological Satellite, its second Olympic weather satellite, at the Launching Center in Taiyuan this morning. It will be put to use during the Beijing Olympic Games to help predict the weather.

The Fengyun three series of satellites is China's second generation of Polar-Orbiting Meteorological Satellites.

The FY-3 satellites are able to provide global sounding of 3-dimensional thermal structures of the atmosphere. Their global imaging technology also supports short-range weather forecasting and real-time monitoring of meteorological or hydrological disasters. And they can also provide the necessary data to derive important geophysical parameters and support researchers on global and climate change.

A China Meteorological Administration official says the new satellite will provide accurate and timely information about weather changes to facilitate more precise weather forecasts during the Beijing Olympic Games.

Gao Huoshan, FY-3 General Commander of China Aerospace Science & Tech. Corp., said, "The FY-3 series satellites are all equipped with 11 remote sensing instruments. The microwave remote sensing system can enable the satellites to provide 24-hour real-time detecting. The optical remote sensors are capable of both visible or invisible lights probing. They can work day and night."

With the successful launching of the satellite, Chinese meteorological stations are now able to forecast the weather 10 to 15 days in advance. Big natural and ecological disasters can also be monitored.

Original video:
http://www.cctv.com/video/NewsHour/2008/05/NewsHour_300_20080527_10.shtml

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• china
• Olympic
• weather
• satellite
• Fengyun
• three
• Meteorological
• Satellite
• Beijing
• Games
• FY-3
• 风云一号气象卫星