Sopot, Poland, for the 2012 EUMETSAT Meteorological Satellite Conference September 3-7, Europe’s leading annual specialized forum for scientific exchanges between meteorologists, oceanographers and environmentalists.

The conference is co-organized and hosted by the Polish Institute of Meteorology and Water Management-Nationa.

The EUMETSAT Director-General, Alain Ratier, and the IMGW-PIB Director-General, Mieczyslaw S. Ostojski, will address the opening session on the first day of the conference.

In addition to the cornerstone themes of climate monitoring, atmospheric composition and satellite-based observations of the oceans, there will be a special focus on the use of satellite data to help understand the hydrological cycle. Scientists from across the world working with such data have chosen this conference to discuss their findings in a dedicated session spanning two days. Other sessions will be devoted to current and future satellites, instruments and their applications; forecasting and nowcasting; and training, promising participants experience, innovation and diversity. All these subjects will also be covered by the conference poster program.

It will be the 26th EUMETSAT Meteorological Satellite Conference, the first of which was held in 1986. Up to 400 participants from around 40 countries are expected to attend this year.