MetOp-SG captures a cloud bow over Chile and Peru
MetOp Second Generation (MetOp-SG) was launched in August 2025. Two of its instruments have already returned first data. Now it's the turn of the Multiviewing multichannel multipolarisation imager – 3MI for short. This hi-tech instrument, built by Leonardo, provides data on aerosols in our atmosphere.
On 28 August, over Chile and Peru, 3MI also captured a striking atmospheric feature known as a cloud bow – a rainbow-like arc formed by sunlight interacting with tiny water droplets in clouds. The image on the left is natural light and the cloud bow is barely visible. In the image on the right, based on polarised light measurements, the cloud bow is vivid. The spectacular range of colours is directly related to droplet size, critical information for understanding cloud structure and improving weather prediction
See two further images captured by 3MI on the same day:
