EXPERTS are developing a satellite-based system which they hope will vastly improve monitoring and forecasting of extreme weather and natural disasters anywhere in the world.

The newly formed International Center for Earth Data (ICED) – which involves the University of Edinburgh and US-based small satellite technology provider Orbital Micro Systems (OMS) – will gather, process and deliver weather information from public and commercial sources for researchers, governments and commercial enterprises around the world.

It will enable near real-time monitoring and improved forecasts for sectors such as insurance, agriculture, aviation, and shipping.

Based at Edinburgh University, the programme will capture and analyse data from OMS’s planned constellation of 40 satellites – each about the size of a large shoebox. These missions will include the first launch of the recently announced UK spaceflight programme, using the planned spaceport on Scotland’s north coast.

The technology will be equipped with sensors to gather quarter-hourly updates on global conditions such as temperature, humidity and atmospheric pressure. The resulting data stream will be interpreted and delivered to clients across the world to enable near real-time decision making and high-value forecasts.

Researchers from OMS will take up residence in the Bayes Centre, the university’s soon-to-open hub for expertise in data science and technology. They will work with researchers in high performance computing, geosciences and informatics to design data and analytics technology for the sensors. The University of Colorado Boulder is also involved in the ICED.

Professor Mark Parsons, associate dean for e-research at Edinburgh University, said: “Our expertise in data science means we are perfectly placed to support the sophisticated production of regular and reliable weather information for recipients around the world.”