Sensor · Spaceborne

FY-4A Advanced Geostationary Radiation Imager

Compiled from public sources on 2026-06-16. Not independently verified by China Meteorological Administration.

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FY-4A 14-channel VIS/NIR/SWIR/MWIR/TIR geostationary radiation imager for 15-minute full-disc and minute-level regional meteorological imaging.

Sensor

The Advanced Geostationary Radiation Imager (AGRI) is the primary imaging payload aboard the FY-4A (Fengyun-4A) geostationary satellite, positioned at 104.7 deg E.^[1]

AGRI carries 14 spectral channels spanning 450 nm to 12.5 um.^[2] Six channels cover the VIS/NIR/SWIR range (450-2350 nm) at ground sampling distances of 0.5 km (channel 2 at 0.65 um) or 1-2 km depending on channel.^[2] Eight channels cover MWIR and TIR (3.5-12.5 um) at 4 km GSD.^[2] Channel 7 at 3.75 um operates in a dual-resolution mode with 2 km and 4 km IFOV as confirmed design variants.^[2]^[1]

The instrument delivers full-disk imagery every 15 minutes and regional sector coverage at 1-minute cadence over a 1000 km x 1000 km window.^[1] Measurement objectives include cloud cover, optical depth, top height and temperature; integrated water vapour; horizontal wind vectors via atmospheric motion vectors; sea surface temperature; precipitation estimation; and fire detection.^[2] Instrument mass is 306 kg.^[3] FY-4A launched on 2016-12-11 and AGRI entered operational service in 2017.^[1]

Where this fits, supply chain

Compositional position

FY-4A ——— this payload

this ——— FY-4A (Operational) flies on

Methods this sensor implements

Demonstrated

Atmospheric motion vectors (AMV)via FY-4A
AGRI supports wind derivation by tracking clouds and water-vapour features.
Sea-surface temperature retrievalvia FY-4A
WMO lists sea-surface temperature retrieval as high relevance for AGRI thermal channels.
Satellite precipitation retrievalvia FY-4A
WMO lists precipitation intensity retrieval from AGRI TIR/SWIR/MWIR cloud microphysics with microwave-calibration caveats.
Thermal anomaly detectionvia FY-4A
WMO identifies AGRI MWIR/TIR channels as suitable for fire radiative power and fire temperature retrieval.

Capable, undemonstrated

None on record.

Topics this relates to

Atmospheric Wind Observation Atmospheric motion vectors (AMV)(demonstrated)well suited

Vector-borne disease risk Satellite precipitation retrieval(demonstrated)adequate

Sea surface temperature Sea-surface temperature retrieval(demonstrated)well suited

Ocean heat content Sea-surface temperature retrieval(demonstrated)marginal

Industrial emissions Thermal anomaly detection(demonstrated)well suited

Wildfire Thermal anomaly detection(demonstrated)well suited

Geology and geohazards Thermal anomaly detection(demonstrated)adequate

Air quality Thermal anomaly detection(demonstrated)marginal

Building thermal performance Thermal anomaly detection(demonstrated)marginal

CO2 Thermal anomaly detection(demonstrated)marginal

Disaster damage assessment Thermal anomaly detection(demonstrated)marginal

Economic activity intelligence Thermal anomaly detection(demonstrated)marginal

Illegal and unregulated fishing Thermal anomaly detection(demonstrated)marginal

Oil spills Thermal anomaly detection(demonstrated)marginal

Pipeline integrity Thermal anomaly detection(demonstrated)marginal

Shipping emissions Thermal anomaly detection(demonstrated)marginal

Sources

[1]WMO OSCAR instrument record: Advanced Geostationary Radiation Imageragency doc2026-06-16
[2]NSMC FY-4A instruments pageagency doc2026-06-16
[3]FY-4 (FengYun-4) mission overview, eoPortal Directorycommunity2026-06-16

Cite https://eo-atlas.org/products/sensor/agri Markdown twin → Field definitions →