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EORC’s Earth Science Challenge bservation and Addressing Social Issues

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enter Daichi (ALOS) Series Shikisai (GCOM-C)

The Advanced Land-Observing Satellite 2 (Daichi-2/ The Global Change Observation Mission (GCOM) ALOS-2) extends the technologies and results of the observes climate change worldwide over extended earlier Advanced Land-Observing Satellite periods. Shikisai (GCOM-C), one of the family of (Daichi/ALOS) to deliver more rapid acquisition of GCOM satellites, is equipped with the Second observation data across a wide area, with improved Generation Global Imager (SGLI), which observes resolution. The data obtained from ALOS-2 find clouds, aerosols, ocean color, vegetation, and snow applications in a wide range of fields, including and ice by multiband imaging from near-ultraviolet disaster assessment, national land management, to thermal infrared wavelengths. agriculture, forestry and oceanography.

Shizuku (GCOM-W)

Another satellite of the GCOM family, Shizuku (GCOM-W) is carrying the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2). AMSR2 can observe the Earth's surface through clouds to measure global changes in a variety of water-related parameters, including water vapor and rain in the Toward better understanding atmosphere, sea surface temperature and wind GPM Core Satellite speed, sea ice, soil moisture at the land surface, and snow depth. Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) is an international joint mission to measure worldwide of Earth’s diversity precipitation. A core satellite incorporating Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR), a radar technology developed in Japan, with multiple constellation satellites, works in sync to measure worldwide precipitation once every 3 hours. The accurate estimates of global precipitation provided through GPM support analysis of water circulation on the Earth. Ibuki (GOSAT) Series

Ibuki, The Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT/Ibuki), which is the world’s first satellite designed for greenhouse-gase monitoring form EarthCARE space, measures global distribution of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) with more than The Earth Clouds, Aerosols and Radiation Explorer 10,000 spectral cahnnes. In cooperation with (EarthCARE) is a satellite developed jointly by Japan Japan’s National Institute for Environmental Studies and the European Union (EU). Its four sensors and Ministry of the Environment, EORC processes elucidate the movement of clouds and actions of data and provides the analytical results to the aerosols, improving the accuracy of climate-change general public. forecasting.

Note : In addition to data from the satellites listed above, EORC processes and publishes data from other countries’ satellites and data from Himawari, a synchronous (geostationary) meteorological satellite operated by the Japan Meteorological Agency Assessing Behavior of Monitoring Ocean Environment Catching Land Changes the Atmosphere, Rain and Clouds Predicting the Future with Models

EarthCARE GCOM-C GPM GCOM-W Monitoring of Aerosols EarthCARE GCOM-C GOSAT Himawari Ocean Environment Monitoring GPM GCOM-W GCOM-C Himawari Monitoring the Forests ALOS Atmospheric and Aerosol Models GOSAT Himawari Ocean Modeling GCOM-C Himawari

Aerosols including yellow dust, anthropogenic pollutants such The oceans play an enormously important role in global The synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) Aerosol Monitoring Research Group works with other Ocean observation by satellites has both benefits and as PM2.5, volcanic ash, and smoke from forest fires have climate change in terms of energy and water cycle, including mounted on the Advanced Land organizations builds systems to assimilate satellite data to drawbacks. Major advantage is their capability to observe significant influence on living environments. They can reflect atmospheric circulation. It is also pointed out that the global Observing Satellite (ALOS/Daichi) and aerosol transport models and open both the satellite data global area homogeneously. However, satellites cannot capture or absorb sunlight or reduce visibility. They may settle on warming significantly affects the ocean environment ALOS-2 (Daichi-2) can observe the Earth’s and the model results online. information from below the ocean surface, so they cannot track

vehicles, buildings and crops, causing damage to health. changes. Since the oceans cover some 70% of the Earth’s surface even through cloud and rain cover. URL▶https://www.eorc.jaxa.jp/ptree/aerosol_model/index_j.html daily changing positions of ocean currents, such as the Kuroshio Combining JAXA data with other satellite data from Japan and surface, they deeply connect to our lives through fishing This capability enables ALOS and ALOS-2 current that flows past Japan. To address this issue, EORC is ▲PALSAR global mosaic, 2009 ▲PALSAR forest/non-forest map, 2009 around the world, JAXA estimates the quantities and types of industry, marine transport, and/or marine resource to observe forests worldwide, including collaborating with the ocean model community to assimilate aerosols and provides data and images to both researchers and management. Therefore, ocean observations by satellites are those in the frequently cloudy tropics. satellite sea surface temperature (SST), obtained from GCOM-W the general public. In collaboration with other organizations, widely used not only in climate change researches but also in JAXA joins up the images captured by SAR and Himawari, into ocean model with 3-km spatial resolution. JAXA is also developing data assimilation systems for other fields, including meteorology and fishery. EORC utilizes to create a single, seamless mosaic. It then In this way, we are able to produce accurate ocean analysis and combining satellite data with aerosol transport models. The satellite data from both microwave radiometers, which can uses this mosaic to form a global forecast data without gaps via internet in operational-basis. ▲Aerosols in and around the US state of California on November 10, 2018, aim of this effort is to create a common environmental observe the ocean surface even through clouds, and infrared ▲SST anomalies from climatology at during El Niño (upper: 5-day forest/non-forest map, distinguishing URL https://www.eorc.jaxa.jp/ptree/ocean_model/index.html as observed by Shikisai Using RGB images composed from red, green and ▶ averaged SST from Nov. 16 to 20, 2015 observed by GCOM-W/AMSR2) information about when, from where, which type, how much near-ultraviolet channels, the aerosols generated by fires can be identified radiometers, which can observe even the coastal area with forested from non-forested areas of and La Niña (lower: same as upper but in 2007 observed by aerosols are coming. by their yellowish-brown color as they spread from land to the ocean. fine spatial resolution, to produce and distribute information the world. JAXA publishes the mosaics Aqua/AMSR-E). Since microwave radiometers are able to observe status ▲PALSAR global mosaic, 2015 ▲PALSAR forest/non-forest map, 2015 related to ocean environment, including sea surface of ocean surface through clouds, it is suitable for frequent monitoring together with conventional maps. temperature (SST) and wind speeds. of the ocean environment over broad areas.

Observing Greenhouse Gases GOSAT

ALOS GOSAT launched in January 2009 has been providing global carbon dioxide Sea Ice Monitoring ALOS GCOM-W GCOM-C Crustal Deformation Monitoring (CO2) density from space. A decade-long global GOSAT data show annual ▲Aerosol optical thickness, 02:00 UTC, April 5, 2019. Upper left and ▲Observation of SST by Himawari at 9:00AM, May 5, 2019 JST (left); increase of CO2 density that exceeded 400 ppm. Larger seasonal variations in The Synthetic Array Radar (SAR) mounted on the Sea ice covering the North and South Poles provides a useful index for measuring the upper right panels show the aerosol optical thickness estimated by Forecast of SST by model with satellite data assimilation (center); Forecast the northern hemisphere indicate larger CO2 emission and larger uptake by ALOS and ALOS-2 can render visible in their entirety Himawari-8 observation data and aerosol transport model, respectively. of water temperature at depth of 100m by model (right). By coordinating pace of global warming. In the Arctic Ocean, the sea ice cover has shrunk in recent Lower left and lower right panels are contribution of the dust aerosol satellite observations with ocean models, it is possible to estimate and plant photosynthesis in summer. In addition to global grid measurement, deformations in the Earth’s surface caused by ▶Crustal deformation from the years. This trend reduces the time and cost required to transport goods by ship, raising 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes, and the sulfuric-acid aerosol to the total optical thickness estimated by forecast ocean information of underwater and regions where satellites GOSAT can target local emission-sources by using its agile pointing earthquakes, volcanic activity, landslides and other the attraction of the Arctic as a shipping channel. EORC uses microwave sensors whose strongest temblor reached a the model, respectively. cannot observe. mechanism. GOSAT carries the world’s highest resolution spectrometer with geological phenomena, with centimeter-level magnitude of 7.0. This image was (The model results are provided by the Meteorological Research Institute.) (Images produced by: JAXA/JAMSTEC) (GCOM-W), which are little affected by differences in weather, and optical sensors more than 10-thousand channels. It can measure both solar reflected light precision. Using techniques such as Interferometric obtained by processing data from (GCOM-C), which offer powerful resolution, to provide frequent monitoring of the the PALSAR-2 synthetic-array radar that passes from the top of the atmosphere to the surface and returns back SAR. EORC applies displacement sampling and polar sea ice covers. This figure is an image of the Arctic Ocean on September 21, 2018, on ALOS-2. Applications include GPM EarthCARE GCOM-W CO2 concentrations in the lower atmosphere of the to space and thermal emission from CO2 in the earth’s atmosphere. Then CO2 ▲ conducts research on enhancing its effectiveness. earthquake source-fault modeling. Kanto region as observed by GOSAT on March 17, 2015 as observed by GCOM-W. We can see that the shrinking trend in the sea ice until about GPM GCOM-W GCOM-C GOSAT Himawari enhancement in the lower troposphere over mega cities are retrieved. Terrestrial Modeling Climate Modeling 2012 has slowed in recent years. Also, the synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) mounted on Estimating CO2 emission from individual mega city by combing wind speed the ALOS Series satellites can observe the extent of sea ice to a resolution within and partial column density data will contribute to the global stocktake. How does water circulate on Earth? When using numerical weather/climate models to several meters to 100m. EORC will continue to monitor the sea ice from both a ▲Image of the Arctic sea ice on September 21, Under a joint partnership with the University of Tokyo, represent forecasts and climate projections, processes of scientific and a practical perspective. 2018 based on observation data from GCOM-W Land-Cover Classification and Ecosystem Modeling ALOS GCOM-C JAXA develops and operates Today’s Earth, a system that clouds and precipitation in particular introduce calculates and visualizes water circulation on land based on numerous uncertainties. These numerical models of GPM EarthCARE GCOM-W Observing the Water Cycle and Precipitation Changes in land cover, due to changes in forestation, urbanization, disasters meteorological data gleaned from satellite observation. weather and climate require continuous testing and and other phenomena, are currently accelerating. Land-cover maps that Our goal is to find out integrated answers to questions evaluating by data from Earth observation satellites. For ALOS GCOM-C Himawari In recent years extreme weather events such as flooding and drought have Ocean-Color Monitoring capture the current state of land cover, which changes day by day and about the Earth’s hydrology by analyzing the information this purpose, EORC incorporates a satellite-data risen in frequency due to changes in the weather and climate. Under moment by moment, are a vital necessity for a wide range of research efforts, the system provides about water resources, such as the flow simulator, named as "Joint-Simulator", as a software conditions such as these, satellite observation of the water cycle is more critical Sea color is a useful indicator of conditions at the ocean surface. The color of ranging from global-scale simulations of climate, hydrology and ecosystems volumes of rivers. The data are calculated using a global required for advanced uses of Earth observation than ever. EORC draws on two sources to deliver highly accurate, the sea can vary by the type and quantity of photosynthetic pigments such as to policymaking and problem-solving of global issues such as biodiversity, lattice of squares 50km wide plus a higher-resolution grid satellites. EORC also conducts research that assimilates high-resolution precipitation data in near real time, in the form of the Global chlorophyll a, a component of marine phytoplankton. Along the coasts, sea agriculture, forestry, fisheries, the environment, disaster preparedness and in Japan of squares 1km wide. The information is published data from Earth observation satellites, "NEXRA Satellite Map of Precipitation (GSMaP). This map combines a base of data from color varies according to the quantity of suspended solids supplied from the ▶Image of chlorophyll a publish health. Creating such maps requires high-level calibration of satellite with risk indices included. （NICAM-LETKF JAXA Research Analysis)". density around Japan as the Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) mounted on the core GPM land, such as organic matter and soil. By observing the ocean’s color from observed by Shikisai on data, collation of databases of instructors and proving-test information, and satellite with microwave radiometric data from the Global Change satellites, researchers can discern the distribution of phytoplankton worldwide April 16, 2019. Values the development and improvement of classification algorithms. EORC Simulation results using Observation Mission—Water (GCOM-W/Shizuku). GSMaP is especially effective and the ways in which it is changing, or the flow of matter from the coasts into can be found in the scale partners with various universities and research facilities to pursue these ◀ at right. Phytoplankton NICAM (Nonhydrostatic in monitoring trends in developing countries, where ground observation the ocean.Phytoplankton plays a role in carbon fixing through photosynthesis propagation (the spring efforts. EORC prepares land-cover data sets by integrating and combining ICosahedral Atmospheric facility is not enough. In fields such as disaster and agriculture, where satellite Model) performed using and as a primary producer in the ocean ecosystem. Researchers expect to find bloom) can be seen data from diverse sensors, including optical, microwave, active and passive Observed in 2007 Observed in 2017 JAXA's super computer data had not been used in the past, EORC is finding new users of satellite data applications for phytoplankton in observing how climate change transforms occurring from the sensors, leveraging JAXA satellite data to maximum advantage. By furnishing ▲Observation of heavy rainfall in July 2018 using GSMaP. coasts of Hokkaido to (JSS2). A figure shows surface on the water cycle and precipitation. Regular use is becoming increasingly ocean ecosystems, determining the on distribution of fisheries and predicting comprehensive, high-quality land-cover data sets, EORC contributes to the The figure shows total precipitation over the 72-hour the seas around Tohoku ◀Today’s Earth portal site: precipitation and column water common among field organizations and private businesses. period from 10:00AM, July 5 to 9:59AM, July 8. changes in that distribution, among others. (northeastern Honshu). search for solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems. ▲High-resolution land-cover map of central Vietnam https://www.eorc.jaxa.jp/water/ vapor at 16:00 UTC, July 13, 2017. Protecting the Quality of Observation Data

How Earth Observation Data are Processed

JAXA Earth Observation Satellites Users

National and local governments, Performs lower level processing universities, research facilities, private sectors, general public, etc.

Calibration of sensor sensitivity Data relay Delivery Data are Domestic and satellite disseminated to users. overseas tracking and Geometrical calibration observational stations

Calibration/Validation & Processing Application Research Reception Higher level processing is performed. Conducting research & development Converted to to improve accuracy and to develop Observation data from various information satellites are received. processing methods, and sophisticated analysis and modeling of various data sets. Storage

Observation data are archived.

Cooperation with organizations and researchers throughout Japan and around the world

Activities at EORC

The data acquired by the Earth observation satellites and users. Analysis includes researches on satellite data instruments developed by JAXA are received by ground utilization in fields, such as global environmental stations in Japan and overseas and are mainly archived change in ocean, water cycle, atmosphere and climate, at the JAXA's Tsukuba Space Center. The major activities resource managements in agriculture, forestry and of Earth Observation Research Center (EORC) are fisheries, and disaster prevention and land use. EORC analysis of observation data, development of algorithms also conducts projects to distribute data sets of related to retrieve geophysical parameters, calibration and satellite and ground data collecting from worldwide validation of satellite data, and data dissemination to under international collaboration.

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency JAXA website http://www.jaxa.jp Earth Observation Research Center (EORC) EORC website 2-1-1, Sengen, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 305-8505 http://www.eorc.jaxa.jp