Flexible Combined Imager (FCI)

Flexible Combined Imager (FCI) is the Meteosat Third Generation imaging payload for geostationary passive-optical observation, with a 16-channel visible and infrared observing set for full-disc and rapid-scan meteorology.^[1][2] Its documented imaging cadences are 10 minutes for full-disc coverage and 2.5 minutes for European rapid imagery, with 1-2 km nominal resolution and a 0.5 km high-resolution mode on selected channels.^[1][3][2] The instrument is operational on Meteosat-12 and supports cloud, surface and thermal scene monitoring from geostationary orbit through repeated visible and infrared imagery.^[1][2]

FCI has demonstrated atmospheric motion vectors on Meteosat-12, and sea-surface temperature retrieval and thermal-anomaly detection are demonstrated uses of the same instrument family in that mission context.^[1][2] Its operational role is high-cadence geostationary imaging: 16 channels, full-disc refresh, regional rapid scan, and mature use on the MTG imaging mission line.^[1][3]