The paper presents the research work aimed at improving the quality characteristics of information products based on the MSU-GS/VE radiometer aboard the Arktika-M No. 1 satellite, as well as at obtaining data preprocessing products. All described methods are based on using machine learning algorithms, namely, neural networks of various architectures. The results of developing a technology for minimizing the interference that occurs in the channels of the satellite device are provided. The work on detecting cloud formations based on processing the channel data in the visible and infrared ranges is presented. It is shown that the use of neural networks makes it possible to implement automatic algorithms for obtaining thematic products that take into account various factors and have an accuracy that is commensurate with statistical and physical approaches and reduces the time of satellite data processing.

В статье представлены возможности высокоэллиптической гидрометеорологической космической системы «Арктика-М», созданной в целях исследований климатических характеристик и атмосферных процессов в Арктическом регионе. Приведены основные характеристики и задачи полезной нагрузки космического аппарата «Арктика-М» № 1, дано описание наземного сегмента, получаемых информационных продуктов и инновационных подходов в обработке данных.

The results of the testing and operation of the Arktika-M highly elliptical orbit hydrometeorological space system are presented. The advantages of highly elliptical orbits, the main characteristics and tasks of the Arktika-M No. 1 satellite payload are considered. The description is given of the ground-based segment and resulting information products required to solve problems for the benefit of socioeconomic development of northern Russia.

The article presents the experience of satellite monitoring the Arctic sea ice cover, obtained by the organizations of Roshydromet in 1966-2021. The prospects of expanding the capabilities of the national satellite orbital constellation were discussed. Automated methods of ice cover classification based on satellite radar images are described.

The study provides the overview of the Russian and foreign Earth satellite observation systems used to monitor the Arctic region. The plans of development of Russian hydrometeorological constellation in the next years are outlined. A brief description of the Arktika-M satellite system is presented. The informational prospects are discussed of using IR data from MSU-IK-SRM scanning radiometer installed onboard Kanopus-V-IK satellite to monitor the Arctic sea ice. Various techniques of satellite data processing developed and used in the Planeta Research Center for Space Hydrometeorology are presented including the plotting of raster and vector Arctic sea ice maps, the maps of automated detection and classification of Arctic ice structures with multispectral imagery, sea ice drift, and sea ice boundaries in the Arctic region and its Russian sector. The long-term satellite datasets on Arctic sea ice mapping are analyzed, sea ice reduction is revealed. Map validation results for the Arctic sea ice boundaries obtained from Russian and foreign satellite data are presented.

The study presents methods and examples of using satellite-based products developed by the Planeta Research Center for Space Hydrometeorology to monitor natural hazards (floods, fires, tropical cyclones, environmental pollution, volcanic activity, etc.) on the territory of Russia.

Droughts on the territory of Russia and their impact on the crop productivity are briefly described. Drought risk maps and the current and future drought indices are discussed. The Russian drought monitoring system based on the ground information is considered. The possibility of using satellite data for the operational drought monitoring is assessed. The results of the evaluation of the crop state and droughts based on surface and satellite data are given.

A number of technologies have been developed in the Planeta Research Center for Space Hydrometeorology to provide the satellite monitoring of sea ice cover and water parameters for the Caspian Sea. These technologies produce maps of sea ice, sea ice drift, tracking of near-surface water fluxes, automated classification of ice and water objects, surface wind, and sea surface temperature. Satellite-based products are used for operational hydrometeorology and climate studies of the Caspian Sea environment. A specialized web service for the preparation and comprehensive analysis of satellite data on hydrometeorological and ice conditions in the Caspian Sea was developed to provide information on ice cover characteristics, surface wind, and sea surface temperature.

This paper describes a PlanetaMonitoring software complex, developed jointly by the Scientific Research Center “Planeta” and the Institute of Computational Mathematics and Mathematical Geophysics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, which implements the software for pre-processing and thematic processing of multispectral satellite images of optical, infrared, and microwave ranges. This work also touches upon the pre-processing of satellite data, particularly brightness and geometric transformations, geocoding, and compilation of survey installation. Thematic processing of multispectral satellite images by software for object recognition (without and with training), detection and mapping of lineaments and circular structures, as well as determination of spatial displacements of natural objects (ice fields, water masses, and cloud formations in the atmosphere) over time-different satellite images is described. This software is used to solve a number of applied problems of Earth remote sensing.

Two important areas of Roshydromet activity are considered: the development of the space observation system and the creation of the system of ground-, air-, and space-based geophysical monitoring. The investigation, monitoring, and forecasting of the state of the Earth, its climate, severe weather events, catastrophes, and emergencies requires the extended usage of space observation methods. The current state is considered of hydrometeorological space system included in the Roshydromet space observation system. The space- and ground-based segments of this system are briefly described. The ground segment is based on the national space monitoring system which was developed in 1992—2010 and is geographically distributed. The works are reviewed on the formation of the Roshydromet geophysical monitoring system using ground-based, airborne, and space-based observations.

Preliminary results of a space experiment using the IKFS-2 infrared sounder (Meteor-M2 satellite) showed high-quality of measurements of spectra of the outgoing thermal radiation of the atmosphere–surface system and the adequacy of developed IR radiation atmospheric models in the 15-μm carbon gas absorption band used to recover the vertical profiles of the atmospheric temperature. Outgoing radiation spectra measured by IKFS-2 instruments make it possible to restore vertical temperature profiles with errors close to 1K in most of the 0–30 km high-altitude region, except for the lower troposphere and altitudes above 30 km, where these errors are close to 2–3K.

The microwave MTVZA-GY imager/sounder is one of the key instruments onboard the Meteor-M N2 satellite (launched in July, 2014). The MTVZA-GY data assimilation in numerical weather prediction (NWP) schemes should provide a significant positive impact. The method of absolute calibration for MTVZA-GY atmospheric sounding channels is under discussion. Absolute calibration means converting the antenna temperatures, measured by the MTVZA-GY, to the sensor brightness temperatures and is performed using accurate radiance simulations for selected regions. The NWP products are used as input to the radiance simulation code together with the data on surface emissivity. For the sea surface, emissivity is calculated with a parameterized model. For the land surface, emissivity is specified using a public database. The results of absolute calibration of the MTVZA-GY temperature (52–57 GHz) and humidity (183.3 GHz) sounding channels are presented.

GIS-Amur system offlood monitoring, forecasting, and early warning was developed at the Hydrometcenter of Russia and Planeta Research Center for Space Hydrometeorology for the effective surveill ance of hydrological conditions in the Amur River basin. The system is based on the use of hydrometeorological information, that is, observational data from weather and gaging stations, data from hydrological forecasts, and satellite data. The GIS- and web-based GIS-Amur system provides high reliability, safety, and operational speed. During the operational practice in the spring and summer 2015, the system demonstrated the forecast accuracy and reliability, the timely delivery of output products to end users, and the great variety of the output product types and formats. The system provides near-real time access to all available hydrometeorological data in the Amur River basin that favors correct and timely decision-making for flood risk reduction.

Russia is currently developing the Meteor-3M space observation system of hydrometeorological and oceanographic service that operates through several space vehicles of Meteor-M type. In July, 2014 hydrometeorological satellite Meteor-M No. 2 was successfully launched to the sun-synchronized orbit. Given is general information on Meteor-M No. 2 onboard measurement system, the composition of its output products, and areas of their application. Described is the ground-based complex for the reception, processing, dissemination, and archiving of satellite data.

Data obtained by Russian and foreign polar-orbital satellites for remote sensing (RS) of the Earth is used for monitoring the ice cover of the polar regions. State Research Center of Space Hydrometeorology "Planeta" (SRC "Planeta") and the Institute of Computational Mathematics and Mathematical Geophysics (CMMGI), have developed methods and technologies for processing the satellite data. Russian and foreign satellites (active and developing) including the satellite Arktika are described in the present paper. Procedures and techniques for monitoring the ice cover and examples of satellite data related to Arctic and Antarctic territories are given below.

A new approach to the daily monitoring of properties of the snow-firn cover of Greenlandic glaciers based on the maps of the scattering index computed from the AMSU satellite radiometer measurements is considered. The boundaries of areas with different dispersing properties of snow and their seasonal variations in 2010–2011 are determined. A high daily variability of the scattering index of snow-firn cover in summer and in transitional seasons is revealed. The analysis of probable reasons for the variability of the scattering index of snow-firn cover of glaciers is carried out.

Russian and foreign polar-orbital satellite data of the Earth remote sensing (ERS) have been used for the space monitoring of the Arctic and Antarctic ice fields. Within this problem solution SRC Planeta and ICM and IMG SB RAS have been cooperating for a long time in the field of development and use of satellite data processing methods and technologies. In the report there are the data of operating and prospective flying vehicle from our country and abroad, including space system Arctic, the description of developed methods and operative technologies for the space monitoring of the Arctic and Antarctic ice fields.

A system of cluster analysis (unsupervised classification) for Earth remote sensing data is considered. The system is represented by three methods: the K -means method, the mode analysis of multidimensional histograms, and a hybrid method which combines the mode analysis of multidimensional histograms with their subsequent hierarchical grouping.