China launches Fengyun-2H meteorological satellite

China’s Meteorological Administration (CMA) has successfully launched its Fengyun-2H (FY-2H) meteorological satellite – the eighth and final satellite in the FY-2 series. The satellite took off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province on 5 June 2018. As CMA’s westernmost geostationary satellite, FY-2H provides custom-made services for ‘Belt and Road’ territories, including information for weather prediction and disaster mitigation. These territories often lack the necessary meteorological data and can be subject to grave natural disasters. Positioned over the Indian Ocean, FY-2H provides sustained observations of territories from Oceania to Central Africa and can provide favourable observation perspectives and custom-made high-frequency sub-regional observations for regions including West Asia, Central Asia, Africa and Europe. Equipped with a scanning radiometer and space environment monitor, FY-2H provides a multitude of remote sensing products including cloud images, sand and dust monitoring, clear sky atmospheric radiation and cloud motion winds (CMW). With the ability to provide high-frequency sub-cloud images at six-minute intervals, FY-2H provides timely decision-making support for disaster prevention and mitigation. The Chinese Belt and Road initiative is a multi-billion-dollar development project to stimulate economic growth across Asia. Any Belt and Road countries or APSCO member states can apply to activate dedicated observations from FY-2H, especially in the event of natural disasters such as typhoons, rainstorms, sandstorms, and forest or prairie fires.