Fengyun-3 (FY-3), sends back its first satellite nephogram Friday morning, showing rainstorms in several regions throughout Guangdong Province, May 30, 2008. [Photo: chinanews.com.cn]

China's second Olympic weather forecasting satellite, Fengyun-3 (FY-3), sent back its first satellite nephogram Friday morning.

This nephogram covers the area of southern China's Guangdong Province, showing rainstorms in several regions throughout the province.

China launched the weather forecasting satellite on Tuesday morning by a Long March-4C carrier rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern Shanxi Province.

The satellite is equipped with a dozen advanced detectors such as the infrared scan actinograph and the microwave formatter.

It is able to carry out a three-dimensional, all-weather, multi-spectrum quantitative detection to acquire data from the ground surface, the ocean and the space, according to sources with the China National Space Administration.

The satellite can send back images with the highest spatial resolution of 250 meters and its temperature sensitivity would reach 0.1 degree Fahrenheit. Both indices are close to the most advanced level of similar satellites in the world.

The highest spatial resolution of existing satellites in China had been 1.1 kilometers.

It will also contribute to gathering key geographical data for research on aviation, navigation, agriculture, forestry and oceanography.

The 2,295-kilogram satellite will provide accurate and timely information about weather changes for more precise weather forecasts during the Beijing Olympic Games.

(CRI May 31, 2008)