Improving Analysis with New Generation Earth Observations from Space-Benefits and Opportunities

New generation Earth Observations from Space (EOS) have already provided considerable benefit to meteorological analysis and forecasting in the southern hemisphere. In southern latitudes it has been shown space-based observations extend the length of high quality 500 hPa global forecast by a factor of four, when the forecast is verified using analyses incorporating both satellite and conventional (all) data. New instruments have recently been placed in earth orbit and have contributed significantly to Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) and others are about to be launched. These include the AHI on Himawari- 8 and 9, the ABI and the GLM on GOES, CrIS on Suomi-NPP and JPSS and soon ADM Aeolus and the COSMIC-2 constellation of satellites. The important part of a number of these instruments are playing and will play in future NWP will be described. This includes the application of near continuous locally generated AMVs for extreme weather forecasting and improving moisture analysis and forecasting through use of the hyperspectral infrared and microwave sounding data and GNSS related data such as Zenith Total Delay. Recent results for these atmospheric studies will be discussed as will work undertaken in relation to prediction of severe weather.