The Multi-Viewing, -Channel, -Polarisation Imager (3MI) of the EUMETSAT Polar System - Second Generation (EPS-SG) dedicated to aerosol characterisation

The Multi-viewing ,Multi-channel, Multi-polarisation Imager (3MI) of the EUMETSAT Polar System - Second Generation (EPS-SG) is a two-dimensional push broom radiometer dedicated to aerosol characterisation for climate monitoring, air quality forecasting and Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP). The purpose of the 3MI concept is to provide a multi-spectral (from 410 to 2130 nm), multi-polarisation (-60°, 0°, and +60°), and multi-angular (10 to 14 views) image of the Earth outgoing radiance at the top of the atmosphere (TOA) in order to accurately measure the aerosol load and thereby resolve the directional anisotropy and the microphysical properties of aerosol. The 3MI heritage comes from the Polarisation and Directionality of the Earth's Reflectances (POLDER) and Polarisation and Anisotropy of Reflectances for Atmospheric Sciences coupled with Observations from a Lidar (PARASOL), with 3 instruments launched since 1996.