Eumetsat Backs Next Saf Network Phase
EUMETSAT has approved the next stage of its Satellite Application Facilities network, a move that keeps Member States closely involved in building and running satellite-based services. The decision came at the 111th session of the Council and gives the SAFs a clear mandate to keep turning satellite observations into operational tools.
Support for Core Services
The applications, data products, and software developed through the SAFs continue to feed practical work across Europe. They underpin weather forecasting and help climate monitoring teams maintain a steady view of changing conditions. In practice, that means climate data records and near-real-time products, along with thematic maps and processing tools that forecasters and analysts can use in routine operations.
The Council also backed EUMETSAT Strategy 2040, which is due to be presented formally later in 2026. That strategy sets the direction for stronger operational weather and climate services, while also preparing future infrastructure and maintaining cooperation across Member States.
How the SAF Network Works
The SAFs are specialized centres that develop satellite-derived products and services for defined application areas. Their purpose is to turn raw observations into validated outputs that public weather and climate services can use with less delay. The SAFs operate as eight specialist centres led by national meteorological and hydrological services. Each SAF is managed through a consortium that brings in other expert institutions from EUMETSAT Member States, which is a fairly efficient model from what I have seen. It works a bit like a GIS overlay, where the value becomes clearer once separate inputs line up into one usable layer.
In day-to-day terms, these centres convert raw satellite data into information that services can use straight away. That may include datasets and maps used in meteorology, along with inputs for weather satellite analysis and numerical weather prediction, helping public agencies carry out routine work with less delay.
| SAF Name | Thematic Focus |
|---|---|
| Nowcasting SAF | Supports short-range forecasting and rapid-update satellite analysis. |
| NWP SAF | Develops products for numerical weather prediction and data assimilation. |
| CM SAF | Produces climate monitoring datasets and long-term records. |
| OSI SAF | Monitors ocean conditions and sea ice. |
| LSA SAF | Focuses on land surface analysis, including surface variables derived from satellite data. |
| HSAF | Works on hydrology and precipitation-related satellite products. |
| AC SAF | Covers atmospheric composition, including trace gases and aerosols. |
| ROM SAF | Uses radio occultation data for atmospheric profiling and related services. |
Access, Validation, and Updates
Scientific publications and technical documentation about SAF products are typically available through the individual SAF websites and the wider EUMETSAT web pages that point to product user guides, validation reports, and reference material. Recent updates on the network are usually published through those same channels, including programme news and service announcements.
SAF products are validated through comparisons with reference observations and operational checks before release. Archived products are then kept in the relevant SAF or EUMETSAT data access systems so users can retrieve current files and older datasets for research or operational work.
Users generally obtain SAF data by going to the relevant SAF portal or the EUMETSAT access pages, where product catalogues and download options are provided.
