INTRODUCTION

The 2018 EUMETSAT Meteorological Satellite Conference will take place in ABOUT EUMETSAT ABOUT THE ESTONIAN ENVIRONMENT AGENCY , , from 17 to 21 September. EUMETSAT will be joined in the The European Organisation for the Exploitation of The Estonian Environment Agency is a state authority organisation and hosting of the event by the Estonian Environment Agency, the Meteorological Satellites is an intergovernmental organisation administered by the Ministry of the Environment that was created on 1 June 2013 as a result of the reorganisation of the national provider for weather and climate services in Estonia. based in Darmstadt, Germany, currently with 30 Member States (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonian Environment Information Centre and the Estonian Meteorological and Hydrological Institute. The conference date is very fitting as it coincides The 2018 conference will discuss such topics Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, with the celebration of the Centenary of the as preparing for MTG and EPS-SG, atmospheric Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, The Estonian Environment Agency’s field of activity is the Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Republic of Estonia. chemistry monitoring and applications, and climate fulfilment of the national environmental monitoring programme, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom) and one and ocean monitoring. The conference location the preparation of national and international reports in the field EUMETSAT has organised a meteorological Cooperating State (Serbia). also lends itself to discussions on the topics of of environment, evaluating environmental status, ensuring vital satellite conference every year for more than services, including weather forecasts, and the maintenance and observations for the Baltic Basin, as well as Arctic EUMETSAT operates the geostationary satellites Meteosat-9, 30 years. During that time, the conference has renewal of monitoring stations and equipment. monitoring and applications. -10 and -11 over Europe and Africa, and Meteosat-8 over the become a key annual event for the meteorological Indian Ocean. EUMETSAT also operates two Metop polar- The Estonian Weather Service (former Estonian Meteorological and scientific communities where participants Further conference topics will incorporate orbiting satellites as part of the Initial Joint Polar System and Hydrological Institute), now part of the Estonian from around the world can meet to share their developments in current and future meteorological (IJPS) shared with the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Environment Agency, has a long history dating back to the 18th experience and knowledge during plenary, poster satellite programmes, data access and nowcasting Administration (NOAA). century. Currently, the main function of the Weather Service and workshop sessions. and high-resolution numerical weather prediction. is to draft and communicate weather forecasts and warnings In addition, EUMETSAT is a partner in the cooperative high about dangerous weather phenomena in Estonian land areas, precision ocean altimetry Jason missions involving Europe and territorial waters, inland maritime waters, inland waters and in First announcement the United States (Jason-2, Jason-3 and Jason-CS/Sentinel-6). the Tallinn Flight Information Region. and call for papers The data and products from EUMETSAT’s satellites are vital to The Estonian Weather Service also manages historical and make a significant contribution to the hydrometeorological data recorded at weather monitoring monitoring of environment and climate change. The European stations. The oldest preserved observation book presents Union has entrusted EUMETSAT with exploiting the four Sentinel observations from Paldiski over more than a half-century (1835- missions (Sentinel-3, -4, -5 and -6) of the Copernicus space 1885), something which is rare outside the borders of Estonia. component dedicated to the monitoring of atmosphere, ocean The weather forecasts are prepared on the basis of observation and climate on its behalf. EUMETSAT will carry out these tasks data retrieved from 108 meteorological and hydrological in cooperation with ESA. stations across Estonia. As weather knows no state borders, CONFERENCE 2018 the international data exchange, remote sensing data and numerical weather predictions are an important part of forecasting. The director general of the Estonian Environment Agency represents Estonia in the WMO, IPCC, EUMETSAT, EUMETNET, HIRLAM Consortium and the Advisory Committee TALLINN. ESTONIA. of Cooperating States of the ECMWF.​ 17 - 21 SEPTEMBER 2018 SESSION TOPICS ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS SCHEDULE

SESSION TOPICS AT A GLANCE We invite you to submit an abstract for either an ABSTRACT SUBMISSION: oral or a poster presentation. Posters will hang for 1 December 2017 – 31 January 2018 The early registration conference fee is EUR 350 the entire duration of the conference, with specific (higher if payment is made after the initial 1. Current and future meteorological satellite systems and data access The Second Announcement will be available viewing times allowed for in the programme. registration deadline). Further details on registration from mid-May 2018 and will be published on the fees, deadlines and payment will be provided in the Abstract submission EUMETSAT conference webpage: 2. Preparing for MTG and EPS-SG Abstracts should be submitted in English and be Second Announcement. no longer than one page (A4). In cases where will be open from http://bit.ly/EMSC2018. 3. Nowcasting and high-resolution numerical weather prediction: there are several authors, we kindly ask for one observational input and the integration challenge coordinated response. Please note that the person 1 December 2017 who submits the abstract will automatically be identified as the presenter and point of contact for 4. Observations for the Baltic Basin future correspondence. Submission deadline Each session theme will be assigned a panel of 5. Arctic monitoring and applications experts, constituting the Scientific Programme 31 January 2018 Committee (SPC), whose task will be to review 6. Atmospheric chemistry monitoring and applications abstracts for inclusion in the conference programme. Authors of selected abstracts will be notified (via email) in mid-April 2018, after 7. Monitoring climate and the oceans the SPC meeting.

VENUE The venue for our conference is the Swissôtel Tallinn, one of Baltic’s tallest hotels and in the heart of the city. SPONSORS Tallinn itself is one of the oldest capital cities in Northern Europe. It is rated as one of the best retained medieval European towns, especially the Old Town with its unique medieval EUMETSAT offers interesting sponsorship surroundings, winding cobblestone streets and buildings dating from the 11th to 15th centuries. Tallinn was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997. options. If your institution is interested in During the past 10 years, the capital has developed into a very modern and open city. The airport sponsoring the conference, please contact is located very near to the city and was recently renovated. [email protected] for details.