China plans to launch the world’s first geostationary microwave atmospheric sounding satellite during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30) to enable more precise monitoring and warnings of extreme weather.
- Monitoring Goal: China aims to reach an 85 percent monitoring rate for meteorological disasters by 2030.
- Radar Expansion: Weather radar coverage at 1 kilometer above ground level will increase from 54 percent to 65 percent by 2030.
- Tech Integration: A national demonstration program for AI-powered meteorological models will be launched to improve forecasting accuracy.
Advancing the Geostationary Microwave Atmospheric Sounding Satellite Program
Cheng Lei, director of the China Meteorological Administration’s (CMA) Department of Planning and Finance, stated that the new satellite will provide all-weather, high-frequency, and three-dimensional observations of the atmosphere. This technology is intended to support the precise monitoring of extreme weather events.
The country also intends to expand the Fengyun satellite family, including the launch of Fengyun 4D. This expansion will support domestic forecasting and provide international services, particularly for countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.
Parallel to satellite developments, China will upgrade its weather radar network. The expanded coverage will target areas prone to severe convective weather, heavy rainfall, and geological disasters.
Officials expect that better coordination between localized and large-scale radar systems will improve the detection of highly destructive but smaller events, such as hailstorms and tornadoes.
AI Integration and Emergency Response
CMA head Chen Zhenlin said the agency is working to build a world-class meteorological system by 2030. The goal is to achieve major technological breakthroughs in response to more frequent and intense weather events driven by climate change.
The initiative will center on a strategy of early detection, early judgment, early preparation, and early prevention. To support this, observation networks will be expanded in densely populated zones, major transport corridors, and flood-prone regions to eliminate blind spots.
China will also deepen the integration of artificial intelligence with physical forecasting models. By using big data and AI, the administration aims to improve the resolution and timeliness of its predictions.
Finally, the country seeks to improve the efficiency of its early warning systems. Chen emphasized the need for warnings to be “understandable and actionable” to ensure timely multiagency coordination and evacuations.
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