A mission developed with support from CEOI and selected for ESA’s 11th Earth Explorer Mission will improve weather forecasts by measuring in-cloud wind for the first time from space.
WIVERN, short for wind velocity radar nephoscope, will provide the first direct measurements of winds within clouds and storms – filling a major gap in current weather observations.
Wind is one of the most fundamental forces shaping Earth’s weather and climate. However, despite its central role, global monitoring of wind is still largely insufficient, particularly within clouds, hampering our understanding of its dynamics.
WIVERN is set to obtain about 1 million wind observations per day, helping to improve forecasts of severe storms and hazardous weather.
The satellite’s concept was led by Professor Anthony Illingworth, Professor of Atmospheric Physics at the University of Reading, who also led the successful EarthCARE satellite mission launched in 2024.
Professor Anthony Illingworth said: “There’s a gap in our understanding of winds within clouds and storms. WIVERN will change that. For the first time, we’ll see how winds behave inside these systems, which helps us predict when they’ll become dangerous.
“The satellites I have helped develop will help to keep people safe from extreme weather. EarthCARE and WIVERN will work together to give us a complete picture of what’s happening inside storms and clouds. This means we can give people better warnings about dangerous weather, whether that’s a hurricane heading for the coast or flash floods from heavy rainfall.”
The mission will scan an 800-kilometre swath of Earth’s surface using a dual-polarisation, conically scanning, 94 GHz Doppler radar. The satellite will also measure rain, snow and ice, contributing data to climate records and helping scientists understand how weather patterns are changing.
WIVERN’s latest journey began in 2020, when ESA launched a Call for Ideas for bold new missions that could push the boundaries of Earth science and satellite technology. From 15 proposals, four were subsequently shortlisted for detailed study. In 2023, that shortlist was narrowed further to two contenders before WIVERN was selected.
Dr Nicolas Lévêque, Director of the CEOI, said: “We were delighted to hear that WIVERN had been selected for ESA’s next Earth Explorer Mission, after following the team’s progress closely.
“This exciting project has been years in the making and this announcement is the result of the tenacity of all those involved, starting many years before ESA’s Call for Ideas for Earth Explorer 11. This demonstrates once again that the CEOI and UKSA strategy in supporting EO technology development is successful.
“WIVERN will make a significant difference in monitoring extreme weather – which will have a tremendous impact on weather forecasting, and undoubtably save lives.”
ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programmes, Simonetta Cheli, said: “After a rigorous selection process, we are excited to welcome WIVERN to the Earth Explorer family and we are eager to see the groundbreaking science it will deliver.
“Earth Explorer missions have consistently surpassed expectations, using breakthrough technology to deliver vital insights into our planet – from climate dynamics to ice melt and gravity.”
