New Chinese satellite to enable 3D monitoring of extreme weather

China plans to launch the world's first geostationary microwave atmospheric sounding satellite during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30) to support more precise monitoring and warnings of extreme weather, officials with the China Meteorological Administration said on Tuesday.

Cheng Lei, head of the administration's Department of Planning and Finance, said that by 2030, China aims to raise the monitoring rate of meteorological disasters to 85 percent with the support of meteorological satellites and weather radars.

"China plans to launch the world's first geostationary microwave atmospheric sounding satellite to enable all-weather, high-frequency and three-dimensional observations of the atmosphere, supporting precise monitoring and warning of extreme weather," he said at a news conference.

The country will also expand its Fengyun satellite family, including the launch of Fengyun 4D, to support both domestic forecasting and international services, particularly for countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Meanwhile, China will upgrade its weather radar network, increasing coverage at 1 kilometer above ground level from 54 percent to 65 percent by 2030. The expansion is expected to cover areas prone to heavy rainfall and severe convective weather, as well as regions vulnerable to geological disasters, Cheng said.

Enhanced coordination between large-scale and localized radar systems is expected to improve detection of smaller but highly destructive weather events such as tornadoes and hailstorms, he added.