China's self-developed weather satellite Fengyun-2 has started its trial operation.

It will provide weather forecast information and television images of the nephogram captured by Fengyun-2.

The trial operation will end around January 15 and the satellite is expected to start all-around operations before the flood season of 2005.

China launched Fengyun-2 in October 2004, which is capable of collecting data on weather, ocean as well as solar radiation and typhoon.

(CRI January 4, 2005)