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Abstract
Preparations for the future EUMETSAT Polar System (Post-EPS), which is needed to follow the EPS/Metop system from 2020 onwards, have progressed from initial gathering of user requirements towards formulation of mission requirements. The latter have been derived for a number of observation missions, to support operational meteorology, climate monitoring, and environmental services. Account has been taken to include the expected future evolution of various application areas. Most important observation missions, relevant for atmospheric sounding include, the high-resolution infrared sounding, microwave sounding, radio occultation sounding, and nadir-viewing ultraviolet visible near-infrared shortwave-infrared sounding. A range of prioritised radiometric, spectral, and geometric requirements have been specified, given by threshold, breakthrough, and objective values that allow for instrument concepts of different levels of complexity. The mission requirements build the basis for ESA led instrument and system concept studies, being carried out by industry.