Step 2: Select Appropriate Channels or Channel Derivatives

Move your mouse over each channel for a description.

Now that we've identified the purpose of the product, we can select the spectral channels that are sensitive to the features that we want to highlight.

The MSG SEVIRI imager has twelve channels, more than are currently on other operational geostationary satellites. MSG also offers the best preview of the upcoming GOES-R satellite that carries the 16-channel ABI imager.

To begin, we'll take a quick tour through the MSG toolbox so you know the channels that can be combined into an RGB. Move your mouse over each channel for a description.

Chart of the 12 Meteosat channels • A solar channel since it reflects solar radiation<br/><br/>• Compared to other channels, the atmosphere is relatively transparent at solar wavelengths, producing a good view of surface features • A solar channel since it reflects solar radiation<br/><br/>• Compared to other channels, the atmosphere is relatively transparent at solar wavelengths, producing a good view of surface features • A solar channel since it reflects solar radiation<br/><br/>• Compared to other channels, the atmosphere is relatively transparent at solar wavelengths, producing a good view of surface features • A shortwave IR channel<br/><br/>• For the most part, it acts like a longwave IR channel, measuring emitted terrestrial and atmospheric radiation<br/><br/>• However, during daytime, it also reflects solar energy <br/><br/>• Has special abilities to detect fire and fog A longwave IR channel sensitive to water vapor in the atmosphere A longwave IR channel sensitive to water vapor in the atmosphere A longwave IR window channel capable of seeing low-level cloud and moisture features A longwave IR channel that highlights ozone detection A longwave IR window channel capable of seeing low-level cloud and moisture features A longwave IR window channel capable of seeing low-level cloud and moisture features A longwave IR channel that highlights carbon dioxide detection A high resolution visible channel with 1-km spatial resolution used for detailed close-up views of specific regions of interest