OMI: The ozone monitoring instrument for Metop satellites

This article is concerned with the proposal to fly an Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) on the new series of European meteorological operational satellites (Metop) the first of which it is proposed to launch early in the next centruy. These satellites are intended to enable Europe to assume responsibility for the provision of operational meteorological data from the 'morning' polar orbit - a requirement currently covered by some of the operational satellites provided by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). An initial series of three Metop satellites are proposed under a joint ESA/Eumetsat programme.