<p>Let me try to add some more information for Mr Mani.</p>

<p>Meteosats  are satellites dedicated for meterological purposes alone operated by EUMETSAT.  INSAT satellites by India are multipurpose satellites which serve other purposes also in addition to meteorology. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-18T05:18:48.613Z
2016-11-18T05:18:48.613Z
R. Natarajan
<p><strong>Meteosat:-</strong></p>

<p>The Meteosat series of satellites are geostationary meteorological satellites operated by EUMETSAT under the Meteosat Transition Programme (MTP) and the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) program.</p>

<p><strong>INSAT:-</strong></p>

<p>INSAT-3D is the first Indian geostationary satellite, equipped with sounder instrument that provides frequent good quality atmospheric profiles (temperature, humidity) over Indian landmass and adjoining areas.</p>

<p>More information is here: <a href="http://www.eumetsat.int/website/home/Satellites/CurrentSatellites/Meteosat/index.html" rel="nofollow">Two generations of active Meteosat satellites, Meteosat First Generation (MFG) and Meteosat Second Generation (MSG), providing images of the full Earth disc, and data for weather forecasts.</a></p>

<p>and here: <a href="http://www.isro.gov.in/insat-3d/insat-3d-advanced-weather-satellite-completes-two-years-orbit" rel="nofollow">INSAT-3D, Advanced Weather Satellite, Completes Two Years in the Orbit.</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-22T08:47:38.393Z
I wanted to understand the difference between the images
Mani
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-21T11:11:14.390Z
@Mani, then you should edit the question appropriately to avoid confusions.
arkaia
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-01T04:51:18.787Z
What part is confusing?
Mani
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-20T07:41:21.590Z
2016-09-11T08:35:26.980Z
2016-09-11T08:35:26.980Z
sundar_ima
<p>These are not pure satellite images.</p>
<p>On the images shown in the question, one can see bathymetry in the oceans that cannot be seen from a satellite image.  Rather, those images use a static image background (the land may be from a satellite mosaic, but not the ocean) along with a calculated cloud mask, then show the satellite image only where there are clouds (probably an infrared image where cold clouds are white).  The differences between the two satellite images therefore have less to do with instrument differences than with differences in post-processing.</p>
<p>From <a href="https://worldview.earthdata.nasa.gov/?v=-29.883444587778115,-40.68694904216132,209.57694531542052,73.68033092723095&amp;l=VIIRS_CrIS_SNPP_BT_Band33_Fusion_Day,VIIRS_CrIS_SNPP_BT_Band33_Fusion_Night(hidden),Reference_Labels(hidden),Reference_Features(hidden),Coastlines,VIIRS_NOAA20_CorrectedReflectance_TrueColor,VIIRS_SNPP_CorrectedReflectance_TrueColor(hidden),MODIS_Aqua_CorrectedReflectance_TrueColor(hidden),MODIS_Terra_CorrectedReflectance_TrueColor(hidden)&amp;lg=true&amp;t=2016-02-20-T15%3A47%3A38Z" rel="nofollow noreferrer">NASA WorldView</a> we can see what an actual infrared satellite image at this time looks like (again with cold clouds white, hot surfaces black), in this case from VIIRS on the polar orbiter Suomi NPP at a wavelength of 13.3 µm (I didn't immediately have IODC/Seviri images at hand, I may check mack later for those):</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/f4ubM.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/f4ubM.jpg" alt="VIIRS" /></a><br />
<em>Source: NASA Worldview, imagery from VIIRS</em></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-07T15:52:26.283Z
2021-03-08T09:33:50.963Z
2021-03-08T09:33:50.963Z
gerrit
<p>Some difference i photography is obvious. Insat does not provide images of scattered, light clouds which are essential for a lay observer to form a view about possibility of rain.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-26T09:37:45.293Z
2016-06-26T09:37:45.293Z
user6207
<p>I have seen many times that their are two kinds of Satellite Images shown on the websites like <a href="http://skymetweather.com" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Skymet for India</a> i.e.</p>

<ul>
<li><p><strong>Meteosat satellite images</strong></p></li>
<li><p><strong>Insat satellite images</strong></p></li>
</ul>

<p>I want to understand the basic difference between them.</p>

<p>I am here Adding 2 satellite Images(Meteosat and Insat Images Respectively) for the date of 20/02/2016 and time 8:00AM (IST) to make you understand better visually.<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/vt3w4.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/vt3w4.png" alt="Meteosat image"></a></p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/78EKT.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/78EKT.png" alt="Insat Image"></a></p>

<p>Thanks for your help in advance.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-21T13:16:19.463Z
The website you cited does not tell which satellite it actually is, nor what instrument or channel was used. The difference could result from a different composition of channels, i.e. the second one shows rather high clouds indicating more infrared/ less visible component in it.
Lukas
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-22T03:56:36.237Z
That is why I have asked here..I wanted to clarify that.
Mani
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-14T22:13:41.080Z
The problem between the two are that both the images are from two different sensors. Both sensors would have different spectral resolution, radiometric resolution, variations in observation times and angle etc.. there are so many factors that cause the differences.
Raj Bhagat
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-15T00:01:35.223Z
This gives some guidelines as to why it may be different, but doesn't actually answer the question.
Gimelist
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-15T02:51:32.123Z
Of course we can't give direct answers for these. I work in this field unless we have access to satellite data and sensor information we can't answer them. These are snapshots of them not the original satellite data which can't be shared. Hence without the data we can't exactly pinpoint. The asker has access to the sensor information. Hence it is good to just direct where to look rather and speculate.
Raj Bhagat
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-15T13:20:59.963Z
It's not clear to me what you're asking here.  Understanding the differences is too broad a question, as there are many differences and many reasons for them.  Specifically what difference are you wanting to clarify?
gerrit
<measurements><remote-sensing><satellites>
Difference between Meteosat and Insat satellite Images
Mani
# Difference between Meteosat and Insat satellite Images

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-02-20)

I have seen many times that their are two kinds of Satellite Images shown on the websites like [Skymet for India](http://skymetweather.com) i.e.

* **Meteosat satellite images**
* **Insat satellite images**

I want to understand the basic difference between them.

I am here Adding 2 satellite Images(Meteosat and Insat Images Respectively) for the date of 20/02/2016 and time 8:00AM (IST) to make you understand better visually.[![Meteosat image](https://i.sstatic.net/vt3w4.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/vt3w4.png)

[![Insat Image](https://i.sstatic.net/78EKT.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/78EKT.png)

Thanks for your help in advance.

**Tags:** measurements, remote-sensing, satellites

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: The website you cited does not tell which satellite it actually is, nor what instrument or channel was used. The difference could result from a different composition of channels, i.e. the second one shows rather high clouds indicating more infrared/ less visible component in it.  
> **username_0**: That is why I have asked here..I wanted to clarify that.  
> **username_2**: The problem between the two are that both the images are from two different sensors. Both sensors would have different spectral resolution, radiometric resolution, variations in observation times and angle etc.. there are so many factors that cause the differences.  
> **username_3**: This gives some guidelines as to why it may be different, but doesn't actually answer the question.  
> **username_2**: Of course we can't give direct answers for these. I work in this field unless we have access to satellite data and sensor information we can't answer them. These are snapshots of them not the original satellite data which can't be shared. Hence without the data we can't exactly pinpoint. The asker has access to the sensor information. Hence it is good to just direct where to look rather and speculate.  
> **username_4**: It's not clear to me what you're asking here.  Understanding the differences is too broad a question, as there are many differences and many reasons for them.  Specifically what difference are you wanting to clarify?  

---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2016-11-18. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

Let me try to add some more information for Mr username_0.

Meteosats are satellites dedicated for meterological purposes alone operated by EUMETSAT. INSAT satellites by India are multipurpose satellites which serve other purposes also in addition to meteorology.


---

### Answer by username_6 on 2016-02-20. Score: 4

**Meteosat:-**

The Meteosat series of satellites are geostationary meteorological satellites operated by EUMETSAT under the Meteosat Transition Programme (MTP) and the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) program.

**INSAT:-**

INSAT-3D is the first Indian geostationary satellite, equipped with sounder instrument that provides frequent good quality atmospheric profiles (temperature, humidity) over Indian landmass and adjoining areas.

More information is here: [Two generations of active Meteosat satellites, Meteosat First Generation (MFG) and Meteosat Second Generation (MSG), providing images of the full Earth disc, and data for weather forecasts.](http://www.eumetsat.int/website/home/Satellites/CurrentSatellites/Meteosat/index.html)

and here: [INSAT-3D, Advanced Weather Satellite, Completes Two Years in the Orbit.](http://www.isro.gov.in/insat-3d/insat-3d-advanced-weather-satellite-completes-two-years-orbit)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I wanted to understand the difference between the images  
> **username_7**: @username_0, then you should edit the question appropriately to avoid confusions.  
> **username_0**: What part is confusing?  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2021-03-07. Score: 3

These are not pure satellite images.

On the images shown in the question, one can see bathymetry in the oceans that cannot be seen from a satellite image. Rather, those images use a static image background (the land may be from a satellite mosaic, but not the ocean) along with a calculated cloud mask, then show the satellite image only where there are clouds (probably an infrared image where cold clouds are white). The differences between the two satellite images therefore have less to do with instrument differences than with differences in post-processing.

From [NASA WorldView](https://worldview.earthdata.nasa.gov/?v=-29.883444587778115,-40.68694904216132,209.57694531542052,73.68033092723095&l=VIIRS_CrIS_SNPP_BT_Band33_Fusion_Day,VIIRS_CrIS_SNPP_BT_Band33_Fusion_Night(hidden),Reference_Labels(hidden),Reference_Features(hidden),Coastlines,VIIRS_NOAA20_CorrectedReflectance_TrueColor,VIIRS_SNPP_CorrectedReflectance_TrueColor(hidden),MODIS_Aqua_CorrectedReflectance_TrueColor(hidden),MODIS_Terra_CorrectedReflectance_TrueColor(hidden)&lg=true&t=2016-02-20-T15%3A47%3A38Z) we can see what an actual infrared satellite image at this time looks like (again with cold clouds white, hot surfaces black), in this case from VIIRS on the polar orbiter Suomi NPP at a wavelength of 13.3 µm (I didn't immediately have IODC/Seviri images at hand, I may check mack later for those):

[![VIIRS](https://i.sstatic.net/f4ubM.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/f4ubM.jpg)  
*Source: NASA Worldview, imagery from VIIRS*


---

### Answer by username_8 on 2016-06-26. Score: 2

Some difference i photography is obvious. Insat does not provide images of scattered, light clouds which are essential for a lay observer to form a view about possibility of rain.


---

