Archive Selection Since 1978
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Photo : Clouds over Okushiri Island ADEOS/AVNIR March 29, 1997 Earth Observation EOC Center Archive Selection since 1978 EOC Archive Selection since 1978 Issued on March 31, 2004. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Earth Observation Center 1401, ohashi, Hatoyamamachi, Hiki-gun, Saitama prefecture Phone : +81-49-298-1200 Fax : +81-49-296-0217 http://www.eoc.jaxa.jp/homepage.html Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Earth Observation Center BCC04035H EOC Archive Selection since 1978 1 Preface Contents Space-based Earth observation missions started with TIROS and LANDSAT satellites that the U.S. Chapter 1 Earth Pictured by Remote Sensing Satellites ………… 4-21 launched in the 1960s and 1970s. Since then, other nations have initiated the Earth observation missions and remote sensing technology and data application have accordingly improved In the 1960s astronauts let us know that the Earth is a dramatically. Current global concern focuses on how sustainable development enabling us to beautiful but fragile spaceship. The beauty has been pictured by artificial satellites and expressed in a form of image data enrich our lives can be harmonized with Earth environmental preservation. Accordingly, space- processed and analyzed at EOC, EORC and partner ground stations. We believe that the images will make you rediscover based Earth observation is expected to play an important role in monitoring the Earth environment how our mother planet is beautiful. on a regular basis. The Earth Observation Center (EOC) was founded as an outpost to develop remote sensing Chapter 2 satellite technology in October 1978 in Saitama prefecture (Hatoyama-machi, Hiki-gun). The Japan ………………………………………22-51 organization had acquired expertise through processing and analysis of the U.S. LANDSAT data. EOC started to operate in 1979, with a primarily objective of Accordingly, LANDSAT data played an important role in building up a basis of the EOC policy and receiving images of Japanese islands from the U.S. LANDSAT strategy, as well as spreading the benefits of remote sensing technology more widely. satellites. We will show you various image data of Japan that was collected by domestic and international remote sensing Following launch of the Marine Observation Satellite (MOS) in 1987, the Japan Aerospace satellites over 25 years. Exploration Agency (JAXA; former NASDA) launched the Japanese Earth Resources Satellite (JERS), the Advanced Earth Observing Satellite (ADEOS) and the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Chapter 3 (TRMM) satellite. These satellites pictured various Earth’s faces using microwave and optical Earth Environment ……………………………………… 52-61 sensors. Japan launched ADEOS and ADEOS-II in 1996 and 2002, Serving as a provider of satellite data, EOC has been working with the Earth Observation Research respectively. These remote sensing satellites are designed to and Application Center (EORC) to develop and operate ground control systems for Earth monitor the Earth environment on a global basis, which indicates Japan's determination to solve problems related to observation satellites. The year 2002 saw JAXA launch the Advanced Microwave Scanning global climate change. ADEOS and ADEOS-II images shed light on the present Earth. Radiometer (AMSR-E) onboard Aqua, as well as ADEOS-II and the Data Relay Test Satellite (DRTS), a satellite that relays ADEOS-II data to the ground station. Observation data collected by ADEOS-II Chapter will be provided as soon as possible after being calibrated and validated. 4 Satellite Image …………………………… 62-85 This photo collection marks the 25th anniversary of EOC and inauguration of JAXA, and contains images EOC staff selected carefully from images archived in EOC or offered by other institutes. We Since its inauguration, EOC has received, processed and provided image data collected by a variety of remote sensing are very honored that the edition will provide an opportunity to let you know existing problems in satellites. We will show you these satellite images. the Earth, as well as the Earth’s beauty. Finally, we greatly appreciate your extending continued support and cooperation to us. Chapter 5 Earth Observation Center ……………………………… 86-93 October 2003 We will introduce our 25-year history and the current activities. Director of Earth Observation Center Yoshio Ishido Image Index ………………………………… 94-95 Copyright© 2004 Earth Observation Center. All Rights Reserved 2 3 Spring in the Arctic This image shows the Earth over the North Pole as observed by GLI. The Japanese islands (upper right), Caspian Sea and Black Sea (lower right), Europe (lower), and North America (upper left) can be seen. The image in the lower right corner of the page is surface classification image, showing sea, land, snow over land, snow over sea ice, and clouds in blue, green, red, light blue and white, respectively. The black circle at the North Pole is the region not observed by GLI. PacificOcean Japan Shiberia North America North Pole GGreenlandreenland EEuropeurope Atlantic Ocean 5 Greenland Norway Iceland and the Arctic Ocean Iceland Iceland reflects the morning sunlight appeared from behind the clouds over around the Norwegian Sea. To the north of Iceland rises the thick ice sheet of Greenland in the dark Polar night. 0 500km 6 7 8 Japanese Archipelago Observed m k from Space 0 0 5 The image shows the Japanese Islands in early spring, with the Sea of Okhotsk covered with sea ice. There are still snow and clouds in the Hokkaido Island and areas of the Honshu Island along the Sea of Japan, while you can see the season of fresh green coming in Kyushu and Shikoku Islands. 0 9 Sea Surrounding Cuba and the Bahamas The crystal-clean waters appear turquoise, bright blue and emerald green, surrounding Cuba, called "the Caribbean pearl," and the Bahamas that were named for the landscape of islands rising from long shoals which look like extending to the end of the world. They make a beautiful contrast with the dark blue of the Atlantic. Flloridaorida PPeninsulaeninsula Atlantic Ocean Bahama Cuba Haaitiiti Jamaica Dominica Caribbean Sea 0 50 100 150 200km 10 Japan’s Southernmost Island Okinotori Island Okinotori Island, Japan's southernmost island, is located about 1,750 km south- southwest from Tokyo and west- southwest 910 km from Chichi Island in the Ogasawara Islands. The uninhabited reef island, shown in turquoise, has a maximum length from north to south of 1.8 kilometers and a width of some 4.5 kilometers, while it measures only 70 cm across at its widest point at high water. Etorofu Island 40°N 200 nautical mile zone border 30°N OOgasawaragasawara iislandsslands MMinamitoriinamitori Okinawa IIslandsland Okinotori YYonagunionaguni Island IIslandsland 20°N 120°E 130°E 140°E 150°E 160°E 0 10km 13 Indochina The image is a closeup view of the Indochina, showing Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand. In the lower right of the image the delta can be seen across the mouth of the Mekong River, a major river in Southeast Asia. Originating in Yunnan Province of China, the Mekong runs through the Indochina and flows out into the South China Sea in Vietnam. 0 250km 14 15 Ganges River Spanning most of Bangladish, the Ganges River delta is largely covered with a mangrove swamp forest. The satellite image can show details of the delta. Bangladish Calcutta India Enlarged area 0 50km 17 Nile River and Sahara Desert The image shows the area around Egypt. Recognized as the cradle of one of the world’s greatest ancient civilizations, the country is also very famous for its pyramids. The Nile River is shown as a black vertical line in the right of the image. In northwest of the Nile delta flowing to the Mediterranean Sea fertile lands stretch and cities, especially Alexandria, enjoy prosperity. No forests can be seen in the left half of the image indicating that the eastern part of a vast Sahara Desert is dry with few oases. Some 97 percent of the country consists of desert areas. 0 500km 18 19 Huge Icebergs near Antarctic Showa Base MOS-1 data was received at Showa Base. 0 20km © 20 21 2 2 m k 0 0 4 0 Japanese Islands The image consists of some 100 scenes collected by LANDSAT-5/TM from 1990 to 2000. 23 Hokkaido Shakotan, Sapporo, Lake Toya, Lake Shikotsu 0 30km 24 25 Mt. Usu The below images are four-direction bird’s eye views of Lake Toya, created using digital maps (elevation) produced by the Geographical Survey Institute and LANDSAT-5/TM data collected showing before the eruption of Mt. Usu. 0 5km The above image in the right page is Mt. Usu after its eruption, as observed by SPOT-2. A thick carpet of volcanic ash can be seen as blackish traces in the direction of southeast from the crarter located south of Lake Toya. The below images in the right page show changes in the region around Mt. Usu over two months. The images are lined chronologically from the upper left to the lower right. Volcanic fumes can be seen two months after the eruption. 26 27 0 500km Sea Ice 1 The image shows the northern Japan, as observed by ADEOS-II, indicating that there are thin clouds over the Sea of Japan and also a pack of sea ices in the northern part of Hokkaido. Scaly clouds can be seen from the upper right to lower right of the image. 2 Kunashiri and Etorofu islands can be seen at the left of the image, serving as “icebreakers”. 3 A part of Hokkaido can be seen at the bottom of the image, showing cloudy shadow. At the top of the image is sea where sea ices are drifting. 4 Sea ices begin their journey to Hokkaido about 1000 kilometers from the Russian River Amur. Sea ices are imaged like patched tiles, with a big sea ice some 10 kilometers in diameter.