China deploys weather satellite to track storms over Nepal glacier disaster zone

China has deployed its Fengyun-4C geostationary weather satellite to monitor severe thunderstorms across Nepal and provide real-time intelligence as search and rescue operations continue following a glacier collapse that struck last week.

The satellite, launched in December 2025 and orbiting 36,000 kilometres above the equator, carries a Lightning Mapping Imager that captures 500 frames per second while processing 30 gigabits of data every second to identify individual lightning strokes. Engineers compare that processing capacity to playing 30 high-definition films simultaneously and spotting every traffic light in each one.

Cross-border emergency monitoring underway

Beijing initiated cross-border emergency monitoring observation in the hours after the disaster. The imager's continuous animation delivers a frame-by-frame view of lightning activity inside severe storms, giving meteorologists a precise tool to assess evolving threats.

The satellite system combines the Fengyun-4C series' cloud animations, convective initiation data and rainfall estimates with precipitation measurements from the Fengyun-3G satellite, enabling forecasters to track regional rainfall and weather changes as they develop.

Why lightning tracking matters for rescue operations

Lightning serves as the most visible indicator of extreme weather, revealing where storms are gaining strength, their speed of movement and when they may trigger flash floods, landslides or destructive winds. That storm-tracking capability could provide vital early warnings about extreme weather events during the ongoing rescue operation.

The Fengyun-4C is described as the world's most powerful geostationary weather satellite for lightning detection.

Source: South China Morning Post