SPACE SCIENCE ACTIVITIES IN CHINA

Progress of Earth Observation and Earth Science in China

GUO Huadong1,2, LIU Guang1, LIANG Dong1,2, ZHANG Lu1, XIAO Han1 National Report 2016 1 (Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094) 2 (University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049)

Abstract Sustainability is the current theme of global development, and for China it is not only an opportunity but also a

challenge. In 2016, the Paris Agreement on climate change was adopted, addressing the need to limit the rise of  2018 global temperatures. The United Nations (UN) has set Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to transform our world in terms of closely linking human well-being, economic prosperity and healthy environments. Sustainable development requires the support of spatial information and objective evaluation, and the capability of macro- scopic, rapid, accurate Earth observation techniques plays an important role in sustainable development. Recently, Earth observation technologies have been developing rapidly in China, where scientists are building coordinated, comprehensive and sustainable Earth observation systems for global monitoring programs. Recent efforts include

the Digital Belt and Road Program (DBAR) and comparative studies of the “three poles”. This and other re- E-mail: [email protected] searches will provide powerful support for solving problems such as global change and environmental degradation.

Key words Earth observation, Earth system science, Big Earth Data, Moon-based Earth observation, Global sustainable de- velopment, Digital Belt and Road Program, Three poles

Earth is our common homeland. However, global 1. Advances in Earth Observation change, disasters, and environmental problems are af- fecting the safety and development of every country. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) underscore the China has actively responded to and participated in the need for the scientific community and emphasize global UN SDGs, the Paris Climate Change Agreement and the issues such as climate change, renewable energy, food, Charter on Cooperation to Achieve the Coordinated Use health and water supply[1]. They also show the impor- of Space Facilities in the Event of Natural or Techno- tance of coordinating research on every factor affecting logical Disasters, and is cooperating with other coun- those issues, such as society, the economy, and the en- tries to jointly achieve sustainable development of the vironment, using global monitoring and simulation. In planet. Earth observation technologies in China are de- November 2017, the 23rd Conference of the Parties to veloping rapidly. At present, Earth observation systems the United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on are being built to coordinate comprehensive research on Climate Change was held in Bonn, Germany, to formu- sustainability. Major global monitoring programs in- late guidelines for the implementation of the Paris clude the DBAR and “three-pole” comparative studies Agreement. The main issues are controlling the global of the North Pole, South Pole, and the “High-mountain temperature within 2 degrees Celsius of that before the Asia” region around the Himalayas and Qinghai-Tibetan industrial revolution, and reducing greenhouse gas Plateau. The data produced can provide powerful sup- emissions in stages. In order to guide actions, it is nec- port for solving problems such as global change and essary to determine the allocation and interdependence environmental degradation. of the indicators at local, national, and global scales.

SPACE SCIENCE ACTIVITIES IN CHINA

Products and standards need to be established for moni- Regarding sensors and the observation strategy, the toring, evaluating, and understanding the relationships derivation of Doppler parameters with the removal of among the indicators[2]. In order to achieve this goal, the stop-and-go assumption have been completed and a China has further strengthened the construction of ob- Moon-based SAR signal model based on curve trajec- servation facilities and improved international scientific tory has been established. Following this, a 2D spectrum programs to expand its capabilities for comprehensive of the Moon-based SAR was derived by utilizing the observation to meet the goals of sustainable develop- series reversion method. Based on the Earth-Moon National Report 2016 ment. It has also strengthened the standards for Earth geometric relationship and relative velocity of the radar, science data, the design of processing methods, and the observation geometry of a single base station’s radar mechanisms to ensure global information sharing[3]. has been established. By means of calculating the solar zenith angle between a specific point’s normal vector 1.1 Moon-based Earth Observation and the solar direction vector, an instantaneous observa- The Moon is the only natural satellite of Earth, and it tional scope variation and the theoretical value of the can be utilized as a long-term, stable Earth observation long wave and shortwave radiation can be derived. platform. Compared to manmade satellite platforms, ob- Chinese scientists also proposed to carry out research on  2018 serving geoscience phenomena from the Moon has the observing Earth radiation’s from the Moon. Using an

advantages of longevity, consistency, and stability. Eq- active cavity radiometer with a total channel (0.2 to uipping various kinds of sensors on the lunar surface 100 μm), a solar channel (0.2 to 4 μm), and near-infrared will provide an unprecedented guarantee of comprehen- channel (0.7 to 1.1 μm) was proposed for the total out- sive multi-sphere studies at the global scale, and give going Earth radiation, the reflected solar radiation, and solutions to a series of key scientific issues on the inter- near-infrared thermal emission. action between multiple spheres from the perspective of In research on the lunar environment and observation a geodynamic system. This can enhance the ability to site selection, simultaneous observations and a consis- observe geoscience phenomena and help deepen our tency test were completed for the same occultation event understanding of the Earth system. In response to Earth from deep-space bistatic stations. The preliminary test system science and the development of and demand for revealed strong correlation between the fluctuation of the global change research, Chinese scientists proposed a lunar ionosphere and time variance of solar zenith angles. Moon-based Earth observation platform for long-term Taking into consideration the influence of the nodal pre- systematic observation. It will be the first systematic re- cession of the ecliptic and the Moon’s path, the illumi- search about the principle and feasibility of a Moon- nation conditions of the two poles of the Moon at differ- based platform[4]. ent periods were further studied. For the first time, the ill- Research on a Moon-based Earth observation plat- umination results of half of the lunar precession period form has produced a simulation system for Moon-based were given. A comprehensive analysis of the lunar South Earth observation geometry and a model based on the Pole was carried out along with an analysis of the special geometrical relationship between the Sun, Moon, and geological conditions of the South Pole-Aitken basin. Earth. After analyzing the spatial coverage, the temporal Based on national strategic needs, China’s Chang’E coverage, and the look vector pointing error, it has been IV mission of scientific exploration targets needs from found that equipping sensors in the full observation re- three aspects: material composition, shallow structure, gion of the lunar surface (80°S–80°N, 80°W–80°E) will and the Moon’s low-frequency radio environment. Moon- have optimal performance for spatial, temporal, and an- based Earth observation is a new research field, but is gular coverage of a given Earth surface feature. Further- an inevitable trend after air-borne and space-borne plat- more, based on the polar coordinate representation of forms developed to a certain stage. This will give a new, nadir points, a new automatic geometric correction me- unique solution to a series of key scientific issues about thod has been proposed for cross-platform Moon- based the Earth system. Earth observation images. This achievement solves the 1.2 Big Earth Data Science Engineering distortion caused by the cyclic movements of the nadir point, Earth curvature, and elevation, and it also main- The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has been fully tains the integrity and authenticity of the image[4, 5]. aware of the importance of Big Earth Data and launched

·290· GUO Huadong, et al. Progress of Earth Observation and Earth Science in China

a project titled “Big Earth Data Science Engineering world-class Big Earth Data platform to drive the disci- (CASEarth)” in the Strategic Priority Research Program pline. CASEarth will explore the new big data-driven, (SPRP) of CAS, in order to carry out systimatic research multidisciplinary, globally collaborative paradigm of on Big Earth Data. SPRP is a major scientific and tech- scientific discovery, and demonstrate and propel major nological task approved by the Chinese government to breakthroughs in Earth system sciences, life sciences be deployed, organized, and implemented by CAS. It is and the associated disciplines. (3) Construct a decision

National Report 2016 oriented toward resolving major scientific and techno- support system. The system should serve high-level logical problems concerning overall and long-term de- government authorities using its capabilities for multiple velopment. It is a strategic action plan that integrates issues using multi-angle, panoramic visual analysis, technical problem solving with team and platform buil- simulation, and deduction. The system should support a ding. The plan aims to make innovative breakthroughs number of national projects, including “The Belt and and foster group power. If Big Earth Data is the engine Road”, “Beautiful China”, and the national globalization that propels discovery and innovation in Earth science, strategy, “Human Destiny Community” (see Figure 1)[6]. then the purpose of CASEarth is to inject a new impetus CASEarth will pursue its objectives through the fol- 

2018 for interdisciplinary, cross-scale, macro-scientific dis- lowing three aspects. (1) CASEarth will develop new coveries with Big Earth Data[6]. approaches and paradigms for big data-driven scientific

The overall objective of CASEarth is to establish an discoveries. The Big Earth Data System will reveal the International Big Earth Data Scientific Center within complex interactions and correlations between different five years, which mainly involves three parts. (1) Build elements at different resolutions and scales by repro- the world’s leading Big Earth Data infrastructure. To ducing the spatial distribution and temporal dynamics of overcome the bottleneck of data access and sharing, the land, oceans, atmosphere, and human elements. CASEarth will develop the world’s leading multi-disci- (2) CASEarth will innovate by constructing a high-pre- plinary Big Earth Data and cloud service platform and cision Big Earth Data cloud service platform and the make it a key national scientific and technological big world’s leading Digital Earth system to integrate and data infrastructure that supports national macro-level display the numerous data and information products decisions and major scientific discoveries. (2) Develop a generated by CASEarth. (3) CASEarth will create a big

Fig. 1 Framework of CASEarth[6]

·291· SPACE SCIENCE ACTIVITIES IN CHINA

data-driven, visualized, interactive, dynamically evolv- 1.3.2 Research on Ocean Parameters ing decision support environment for the government. It In the last two years, the research on ocean remote sen- will provide macro-level, real-time Big Earth Data deci- sing in China has focused on inversion algorithms and sion support, and prop up the China-led UN initiative, datasets that are mainly about sea surface height, sea- “The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” [6]. water depth, sea surface velocity and seawater quality. CASEarth consists of eight research components to Generally speaking, multi-satellite, multi-channel rese- help it achieve technological breakthroughs and obtain arch has become a trend. Multi-model inversion meth- National Report 2016 innovative results: CASEarth Small Satellites; Big Data ods can significantly improve the ability to monitor the and Cloud Service Platform; Digital Belt and Road; temporal and spatial variations of ocean hydrological Beautiful China; Biodiversity and Ecological Security; parameters and are likely to be a major research direc- Three-Dimensional Information Ocean; Spatiotemporal tion for global hydrological remote sensing of the ocean Three-Pole Environment; and the Digital Earth Science in the future[9]. Platform. The initiative can become an international, In marine monitoring, the China Ocean Satellite has exoteric big data center, comprehensively enhancing shifted from a single model to multiple types, from a

pilot application to a business service, moving rapidly  national technological innovation, scientific discovery, 2018 macro-decision making, public knowledge dissemina- toward serialization and business operations. In 2017, [6] tion, and other significant outputs . for the first time, China monitored Sargassum, a large brown alga, as an operational service. After nearly six 1.3 Frontiers of Earth Observation Research months of follow-ups, the State Marine Environmental 1.3.1 Research on Atmospheric Parameters Monitoring Center completed satellite monitoring of the In the last two years, China has carried out researches Yellow Sea and the East China Sea, and released 58 on aerosol optical thickness, atmospheric water vapor golden cyclone monitoring reports[10]. content, tropospheric ozone, and atmospheric wind fields, Remote sensing technology is playing an increasingly published more than 200 research articles in major in- important role in China for protecting its interests and ternational magazines, and great achievements have maritime rights, marine development and management, been made in atmospheric remote sensing. marine environmental protection, marine disaster preven- Research on haze has gradually become more in-depth, tion and mitigation, and marine scientific researches[11]. focusing on the establishment and optimization of in- version algorithms, models, and data revision, along with 2. Progress of Earth Observation further development of databases and hardware upgra- Applications des. At the same time, due to the impact of air pollution on human health, especially cardiovascular and pulmo- 2.1 Earth Observation for the Belt and Road nary diseases, some scholars have broadened the scope The Digital Belt and Road Program (DBAR) is an in- of their studies. The correlation between aerosol optical ternational collaborative research program committed to depth and atmospheric pollution related problems caused developing into a platform for sharing advanced Earth by air pollution have been researched. For example, observation technologies across countries involved in some scientists used MODIS data and a Geo-Weighted China’s Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-century Regression model (GWR) to study the correlation be- Maritime Silk Road (Belt and Road). In support of the tween cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and Belt and Road initiative, DBAR will help to effectively aerosol concentrations in East China, and established apply Earth observation technology to sustainable eco- the corresponding databases and recommendations for nomic and societal development. DBAR identified a set the prevention of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular of scientific questions related to the research and de- diseases[7]. Another study used LANDSAT-5 and HJ-1A velopment challenges along the Belt and Road. These satellite data combined with GIS technology and a gray challenges include adaptation to climate and environ- correlation method to explore the relationship between mental change, mitigation of disaster risk, water avail- respiratory diseases and respirable particulate matter ability and safety, agriculture and food safety, protec- concentration. The particle size and incidence are nega- tion of natural and cultural heritage, urban and infrastru- tively correlated[8]. cture development, management of coastal and marine

·292· GUO Huadong, et al. Progress of Earth Observation and Earth Science in China

environments, and sustainability in High-mountain Asia rope through comprehensive and well-funded actions. and Arctic areas. DBAR has recognized these chal- The mission of DBAR is to mobilize Earth observa- lenges as its main foci, which are clusters of outstanding tion-related scientific knowledge, technology, and data research and development questions relevant to attain- to enable the Belt and Road countries to sustainably [3, 6] ing SDGs in the Belt and Road region . develop their infrastructure, economy, natural resources The DBAR Foci are categorized into one Big Earth and culture, and to support decision makers towards Data category and eight interconnected theatrical areas. National Report 2016 meeting the SDG targets relevant to Belt and Road The foci cover areas where the effects of climate change countries[12]. are more pronounced, including two key comprehensive The above-mentioned vision and mission statements regions, coastal and marine environments and high-mo- call for the DBAR Science Plan to meet the following untain and Arctic environments. The areas of interest three objectives in its implementation. (1) To address also encompass disasters, water resources, urban activ- knowledge gaps in Earth system processes that con- ity, infrastructure, heritage, and agriculture. However, strain the attainment of the SDGs in Belt and Road Big Earth Data is the main focus of DBAR’s data-cen- countries. (2) To promote advanced science and deci- 

2018 tric solution to the research and development challenges sion support services to extract effective information [12] it faces . from massive, diverse and ever-growing volumes of Big

The Earth system processes relevant to understanding Earth Data. (3) To enhance capacity building and tech- and modeling the response of terrestrial and marine nology transfer within a system of partnerships and re- ecosystems to climate and development in the Silk Road search networks[12]. Economic Belt and the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road DBAR’s work flow foresees the synergistic exploita- (Belt and Road) region is extremely wide and complex, tion of multiple data streams by developing an inte- from fragile coral reefs to high-elevation glaciers. Ad- grated data processing and analysis system to extract vancing scientific knowledge will require a well-balanc- effective information from the data streams. DBAR has ed combination of detailed in-situ experiments and ac- established seven Working Groups, named Big Earth curate retrieval of surface observations from the radio- Data (DBAR-DATA), Agriculture and Food Security metric data acquired by satellites. The latter is a major (DBAR-AGRI), Coastal Zone (DBAR-COAST), Envi- challenge, even using the well-documented biogeophy- ronmental Change (DBAR-ENVI), Natural and Cultural sical data products generated by the space agencies in Heritage (DBAR-HERITAGE), Disaster Risk Reduc- [13] USA, Europe, China, and Japan . tion (DBAR-DISASTER), and Water (DBAR-WATER), Some Belt and Road countries are operating a grow- and two Task Forces (TFs) named Urban Environment ing fleet of Earth observation satellites and there is an (DBAR-URBAN) and High Mountain and Cold Re- overall solid knowledgebase, but so far the investments gions (DBAR-HiMAC)[13]. in the development and generation of accurate data products have been limited. Also, merging raw data ac- 2.2 Environmental Protection quired by multiple satellites into a stream of multi–so- urce data products is, in many ways, an uncharted terri- On June 5, 2017–the 46th World Environment Day–the tory, both from the policy and the technological point theme was “A Green Mountain is a Golden Hill”. This of view. At the same time, the opportunity offered by profoundly reveals the essential relationship between the Belt and Road Initiative to bring Belt and Road data development and protection. Ecological protection is the assets to full fruition for the common benefit should not process of preserving natural value and increasing natural be missed[14]. capital. Protecting the environment means protecting the Therefore, the DBAR vision is the promotion of in- potential and staying power of economic and social de- ternational cooperation that integrates Earth observation velopment. As China has attached more and more impor- science, data, technology, and applications to address tance to the coordinated development of the environ- environmental change and attain SDGs in the Belt and ment and productivity, Earth observation has played an Road region[1]. The uniqueness of DBAR is the goal of increasingly important role in environmental protection. building upon the diverse Earth observation capacities 2.2.1 Pollution Monitoring with Earth Observation in the Belt and Road countries in Asia, Africa, and Eu- In terms of pollution, what has concerned Chinese scholars

·293· SPACE SCIENCE ACTIVITIES IN CHINA

most in the last two years is air pollution, mainly meas- remote sensing technology has provided technical sup- uring the characteristics of PM2.5 concentration distri- port for regional environmental monitoring. By tempo- bution and its changing trend as well as the space-time ral and spatial fusion of satellite data and sur- distribution of aerosol optical thickness. Research areas face-measured spectral data, China conducted time se- have been distributed in various regions of China, and ries monitoring of the vegetation coverage of wetland studies have used remote sensing data from HJ-1 and and grassland ecosystems in northwestern China. This MODIS/Terra to determine the spatial distribution of laid the foundation for subsequent studies on the change National Report 2016 PM2.5 mass concentration with high resolution and pre- in the carbon budget and the spatiotemporal scale of the cision. The results show that reducing population den- conversion of wetland ecosystems on the plateau[18]. sity is an effective method for reducing PM2.5 concen- China carried out ecological research on the cowfish in tration[15], and meteorological factors have more influ- the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in ence on PM2.5 than geography[16]. With the deepening 2017. It was the first attempt to monitor the environ- of governance measures, monitoring data show that the mental quality of the habitat by using an unmanned ae- average distribution of PM2.5 has been gradually re- rial vehicle[19]. As an ecological reserve that plays an 

duced. Compared with 2013, the average concentration important role in local and downstream ecological pro- 2018 of PM2.5 in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, the Yangtze River tection, remote sensing technology helps to protect the

Delta and Pearl River Delta decreased by 39.6%, 34.3% environment in Sanjiangyuan Nature Reserve. The and 27.7%, respectively in 2017. PM2.5 pollution is Aviation Geophysical and Remote Sensing Center com- getting better, as shown in Figure 2[17]. To further its pleted the “Remote Sensing Emergency Monitoring of research, China has established the world’s first Sanjiangyuan Nature Reserve” project and quickly iden- large-scale integrated ground sounding system. The tified the status quo and change information of mineral multi-component, multi-element system can cover the resources and the geological environment of mines from entire atmosphere and obtain more comprehensive, long- 2015 to 2017 in order to protect the environment in the term, continuous observations with high vertical resolu- area. The protection provided basic data, and a total of tion and high temporal resolution. In other words, it can 20 remote sensing monitoring maps of mineral resource provide a new means for monitoring air pollution. Re- development at 1:500 000 and 1:25 000 scales of Sanji- cently, the Gaofen-4 satellite and the FY-3 meteoro- angyuan Nature Reserve were made. This shows that logical satellite launched in 2017 can both monitor haze. Earth observation has opened up a new approach to re- The mid-resolution spectral images taken by the satellite gional monitoring of the environment[20]. In October can achieve high-precision, quantitative inversion of 2017, China released the “2017 Annual Report on Re- cloud and aerosol parameters, and provide a scientific mote Sensing Monitoring of Global Ecosystems” to the basis for environmental monitoring. world, the results of which aroused widespread concern 2.2.2 Environmental Change Monitoring in the field of international Earth observation. In parti- For the environment, remote sensing mainly plays a role cular, the environments along the "Belt and Road" have in dynamic monitoring and evaluation. In recent years, received extensive attention. The research integrates the

Fig.2 Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region PM2.5 and PM10 average concentration time series (μg/m3)[17]

·294· GUO Huadong, et al. Progress of Earth Observation and Earth Science in China

entire region of Asia, Europe, Africa, Oceania, and the mation management platform[23]. Lidar provides real-time, surrounding oceans into thematic monitoring areas with active, direct and fast access to the measured object with coverage of more than 170 countries and regions and 9 high-density, high-precision 3D spatial information. major maritime areas. FY satellite data will fully sup- This can contribute to restoration, protection, and re- port the preparation of the report. In June 2017, China search efforts. Remote sensing images can reflect the started the second comprehensive expedition of the features of the terrain, landscape, water system and [21]

National Report 2016 Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau . vegetation, and play an important role in exploring the 2.2.3 Xiong’an New Area Heritage Study with Earth distribution of sites covering a large area. All in all, ad- Observation Techniques vanced remote sensing technology can scientifically On April 1, 2017, China set up a state-level “New Area” interpret the sequence of historical development and the in Xiong’an, Hebei Province. It is another new area with cultural aspect of Xiong’an New Area, display its cul- national significance following the special economic tural heritage, and contribute to the protection of his- areas of Shenzhen and Pudong New Area. In the process torical heritage. of building the New Area, experts proposed the slogan

 2.3 Disaster Reduction 2018 of “New construction, heritage first”. Earth observation now plays an important role in protecting historical rel- At present, China has basically completed the satellite ics in the area. As early as the Han Dynasty, Xiong, series, “Small Satellite Constellation for Environment Rongcheng and Anxin existed as counties, and they now and Disaster Monitoring and Forecasting”, “Fengyun”, compose the Xiong’an New Area. The three counties “Haiyang”, and “Ziyuan”. A new generation of remote have a long history and profound cultural heritage, with sensing satellites, represented by the “Gaofen” series, is many protected cultural relics and intangible cultural accelerating development and promoting the transfor- heritage. For example, there remain the Song Liao An- mation of China’s disaster remote sensing from research cient War Road built by General Yang Yanzhao in and application to business services. Researches on dis- Xiong County, Liangmatai site in Rongcheng from the aster remote sensing methods for earthquakes, floods, Shang and Zhou Dynasties, and two Neolithic sites, Li- droughts and other single disasters are progressing in angzhuang and Liucun, in Anxin County. These are ap- the direction of whole processes, that is, total-factor, proved as immovable “cultural relic protection sites”, multi-disaster quantitative monitoring and evaluation and there are more immovable cultural relics that have that is minute and comprehensive. not been approved as cultural relic protection sites[22]. 2.3.1 Earth Observation for Earthquakes Researchers carried out airborne laser surveying and Earthquakes are a sudden, major disaster with great de- mapping on the archaeological sites of the New Area in structive power that can easily cause loss of life and order to obtain comprehensive and accurate topographic property once they occur. In recent years, China has data and further information of the relics. They intended stepped up its efforts in seismic monitoring and fore- to find the burial conditions of the underground cultural casting, as well as in earthquake disaster prevention and relics in the New Area using advanced airborne lidar, post-disaster emergency relief. Progress has been made high-resolution aerial surveying and other technologies. in the study of disaster loss assessment based on high- Specifically, the research employs 3D laser scanning of resolution infrared images and research on early warn- the area, regional airborne laser point cloud data, filter- ing methods for earthquake-based disasters. ing and other related software and methods of data The FY-2E/G infrared remote sensing data of China’s processing and analysis, digital orthophotos, terrestrial stationary weather satellite in 2017 show that thermal digital elevation models of filtered vegetation and anomalies before the Taiwan M5.9 earthquake occurred houses, historical aerial images, historical archeological on October 6, 2016, showing obvious spatiotemporal data and this year's survey results. The overlay analysis features that are relatively easy to identify and can be shows suspected ancient relics and ancient rivers and used as precursors to earthquakes. Earthquake predic- other detailed information for the next step of field sur- tion is a scientific issue that is constantly reviewed and veys and data integration into an archaeological geo- discussed, but the current understanding of the genetic graphic information system and digital integrated infor- mechanism of the thermal anomalies is not yet mature,

·295· SPACE SCIENCE ACTIVITIES IN CHINA

given the complexity of earthquake anomalies, regional 3. Progress of Earth Observation Infra- and meteorological anomalies, and other precursor ano- structure malies. This situation is evidenced by the fact that whether this anomaly can be used as a criterion in future 3.1 Civil Aerospace Development earthquake prediction still needs test in a large number of earthquake cases[24]. From 2016 to 2018, China conducted a total of 45 In 2016, based on medium-wavelength infrared (3– launch missions and 42 missions were completely suc- National Report 2016 5 μm) data of a stationary meteorological satellite, the cessful. The specific launch information is shown in the relative power spectral characteristics of medium-wave- Tables below. The launches include one high-resolution length infrared emission with respect to strong earth- satellite mission, four scientific satellite missions, and quakes were studied. Combining 28 strong earthquakes five commercial satellite missions. These satellites have that occurred in mainland China from 2006 to 2016, the been widely used in various fields such as economics, study summarized the characteristics of relative power science, and technology and achieved remarkable social spectrum anomalies before and after strong earthquakes, and economic benefits (see Table 1–3). and found that in most earthquakes there are different 3.1.1 High-resolution Earth Observation System  2018 degrees of mid-wavelength infrared thermal anomaly The GF-3 satellite was launched on August 10, 2016,

information. Comparative analysis of medium-wavel- and is the first C-band multi-polarization Synthetic Ap- ength infrared and thermal infrared, long-wavelength erture Radar (SAR) imaging satellite in China with a radiation data showed that the dominant frequencies resolution of one meter. The GF-3 satellite has twelve corresponding to various data in the same earthquake imaging modes, including the traditional stripe imaging case are nearly identical, and the mid-wavelength infra- mode, scanning imaging mode, as well as wave imaging red data have the advantage of anomalous amplitude[25]. 2.3.2 Research on Ice and Snow Disasters Table 1 2016 China Launch Mission With global climate change becoming more and more No. Satellite Launch time Rocket model Status prominent, China has been greatly affected by snow 1 ChinaSat-15 2016-01-16 CZ-3B Success disasters. Research on snow disaster monitoring based 2 Beidou M3-S 2016-02-01 CZ-3C/YZ-1 Success on remote sensing data has been carried out in China. In northwestern China, in Qinghai province, Chinese 3 Beidou IGSO-6 2016-03-30 CZ-3A Success scientists selected disaster-prone socioeconomic factors, 4 Shijian-10 2016-04-06 CZ-2D Success meteorological factors, and factors related to livestock 5 Yaogan 30 2016-05-15 CZ-2D Success husbandry, caused by snow disasters in Qinghai Prov- 6 Ziyuan III-02 2016-05-30 CZ-4B Success ince. The study was based on the theory and method of 7 Beidou G7 2016-06-12 CZ-3C Success meteorological disaster risk assessment. Through spatial 8 Tiange-1 2016-06-25 CZ-7 Success analysis methods, a systematic analysis of the spatial 9 Shijian 16-02 2016-06-29 CZ-4B Success distribution of snow risk factors in Qinghai Province 10 Tiantong-1 01 2016-08-06 CZ-3B Success and the characteristics of the comprehensive risk level 11 GF-3 2016-08-10 CZ-4C Success of snowstorms show that the spatial distribution pattern 12 QUESS 2016-08-16 CZ-2D Success of grassland areas and pasture yield was basically con- 13 GF-10 2016-09-01 CZ-4C Failure [26] sistent with the overall risk of snowstorms . The re- 14 Tiangong-2 2016-09-15 CZ-2F T Success search quickly and accurately assessed the level of snow 15 Shenzhou 11 2016-10-17 CZ-2F T Success risk in Qinghai Province. 16 Shijian-17 2016-11-03 CZ-5 Success In Xinjiang in 2016, using remote sensing methods 17 XPNAV 1 2016-11-10 CZ-11 Success combined with many kinds of remote sensing data, cur- 18 Yunhai-1 2016-11-12 CZ-2D Success rent ground observation data, and historical ground ob- 19 Tianlian I-04 2016-11-22 CZ-3C Success servation, a comprehensive analysis of snow informa- 20 FY-4 2016-12-11 CZ-3B Success tion was carried out to establish the Belt and Road snow 21 TanSat 2016-12-22 CZ-2D Success cover database and data products along the transporta- tion routes in Xinjiang and Central Asia[27]. 22 SuperView 2016-12-26 CZ-2D Success

·296· GUO Huadong, et al. Progress of Earth Observation and Earth Science in China

Table 2 2017 China Launch Mission No. Satellite Launch time Rocket model Status 1 TJS 2 2017-01-05 CZ-3B Success 2 Jilin-1 03 2017-01-09 KZ-1A Success 3 Tiankun-1 2017-03-03 KT-2 Success 4 Shijian 13 2017-04-12 CZ-3B Success

National Report 2016 5 Tianzhou 1 2017-04-20 CZ-7 Success 6 Zhuhai-1 01/02 2017-06-15 CZ-4B Success 7 ChinaSat 9A 2017-06-19 CZ-3B Failure 8 Shijian 18 2017-07-02 CZ-5 Success 9 Yaogan-30 A/B/C 2017-9-29 CZ-2C Success 10 VRSS-2 2017-10-09 CZ-2D Success 11 Beidou-3 M1/M2 2017-11-05 CZ-3B/YZ-1 Success 12 Fengyun 3D 2017-11-15 CZ-4C Success  2018 13 Jilin-1 04/05/06 2017-11-21 CZ-6 Y2 Success 14 Yaogan-30 D/E/F 2017-11-25 CZ-2C Success

15 LKW-1 2017-12-03 CZ-2D Success

16 Alcomsat-1 2017-12-11 CZ-3B/E Y40 Success Fig.3 Satellite imagery of Beijing Capital Airport 17 LKW-2 2017-12-23 CZ-2D Success from GF-3 18 Yaogan-30 G/H/I 2017-12-26 CZ-2C Success a maximum resolution of 0.04 nm. The other payload is Table 3 2018 China Launch Missions a multispectral cloud and aerosol detector. It also assists No. Satellite Launch time Rocket model Status in the accurate measurement of CO2 through two main 1 SuperView 03/04 2018-01-09 CZ-2D Success observation modes, the sky-bottom and flare of the main 2 BeiDou-3 M7/M8 2018-01-12 CZ-3B/YZ1 Success plane. A team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences 3 LKW-3 2018-01-13 CZ-2D Success used the TanSat satellite data from July to December 4 Jilin-1 07/08 2018-01-19 CZ-11 Success 2017 to carry out a global vegetation chlorophyll fluo- 5 Yaogan-30 J/K/L 2018-01-25 CZ-2C Success rescence inversion study and successfully obtained glo- 6 Zhangheng-1 2018-02-02 CZ-2D Success bal chlorophyll fluorescence products. Yunhai-1 successfully entered space on November 12, mode and global observation imaging mode for marine 2016, equipped with China’s first fully polarized mi- applications. Furthermore, it has the most imaging mo- crowave radiometer to further probe the polarization of des of any synthetic aperture radar satellite. It has a wide observed targets, achieving the extraction of electro- swath and high spatial resolution enabling both a large- magnetic wave frequency, phase, amplitude and polari- scale census and a detailed examination of specific areas zation information. Moreover, it can achieve long-term to meet the needs of different users for different targets. numerical weather forecasting, improving the accuracy Figure 3 below shows the first batch of images obtained of those forecasts. by the National Defense Science and Technology In- The successful launch of Zhangheng-1 marked dustrial Bureau from the GF-3 satellite[28]. China’s emergence as one of the few countries with 3.1.2 Scientific Satellite high-precision geophysical field satellites in orbit. Us- The Chinese Carbon Satellite was successfully launched ing a common small satellite platform, it is equipped on December 22, 2016. This is the third global carbon with eight kinds of payloads including a search coil satellite after Japan's GOSAT satellite and the U.S. magnetometer, high-precision magnetometer, electric OCO-2 satellite, with a monitoring accuracy of 1–4 ppm. field detector, GNSS occultation receiver, plasma ana- Its main payload is a hyperspectral, high spatial resolu- lyzer, high-energy particle detector, Langmuir probe

tion CO2 detector capable of detecting three atmospheric and tri-band beacon transmitter. This is the first satellite absorption spectra at 2.06 μm, 1.6 μm, and 0.76 μm with of the Chinese Earthquake Observation System based

·297· SPACE SCIENCE ACTIVITIES IN CHINA

National Report 2016

Fig.4 The first global chlorophyll fluorescence product of China's TanSat (July 2017, left; December 2017, right) on space born observation platforms. It is capable of ched on December 28, 2016. Its panchromatic reso- 

dynamic, wide viewing angle and all-weather space-to- lution is 0.5 m, multi-spectral resolution is 2 m, orbit 2018 Earth observation by acquiring global electromagnetic height is 530 km and width is 12km. It is the first com- field, ionosphere plasma, and high-energy particle ob- mercial Chinese satellite constellation with high-agility, servation data. multi-mode imaging capabilities. It can not only obtain The Water Cycle Observation Mission is one of the image data with multi-point, multi-band splicing, but five new scientific satellites China is planning to de- also for 3D acquisition. A single shot produces an image velop and launch in the next five years. The satellite up to 60 km70 km. On January 9, 2018, China launched will help to understand the mechanisms of water distri- a Long March 2D carrier rocket with the SuperView-1 bution, transmission and phase change in the Earth sys- 03/04 satellite at Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. It has tem. The breakthrough in understanding the spatial and a 0.5 m high-resolution sensor for continuous strip im- temporal distribution characteristics of the water circu- aging, multi-strip stitching, stereo imaging, and fast, lation system reveals the characteristics of water cycle multi-target, multi-mode, wide-coverage imaging. The changes in the context of global change and deepens the first series of four 0.5m high-resolution optical remote scientific understanding of the response and feedback of sensing satellites in the Super View Commercial Re- the water cycle to global change. In 2016, the Water mote Sensing Satellite System have completed net- Cycle Observation Mission completed the key tech- working, marking the formal completion of China's first nologies of active and passive collaborative inversion 0.5 m high-resolution commercial remote sensing satel- and experimental verification, and the background model lite constellation. passed its acceptance test. On January 9, 2017, China’s first forestry satellite, 3.1.3 Commercial Satellites “Jilin forestry-1”, was successfully launched. This satellite The SuperView-1 01/02 satellite was successfully laun- has professional image quality, high-agility and mobility,

Fig.5 SuperView-1 02 image of Potala Palace Scenic Area SuperView-1 03, 04 image of Dubai Airport

·298· GUO Huadong, et al. Progress of Earth Observation and Earth Science in China

and highly integrated electronic systems. It has a variety plex system integration. An objective is to carry out of imaging modes such as TDI push-scan imaging, star- research on forward-looking Earth observation and ing/semi-staring video imaging, space-based astro- navigation technologies and theories, application dem- nomical target shooting, and night shooting. It can cap- onstrations, and other technical topics. This will lay the ture sub-meter resolution color dynamic video, and its foundation for the construction of an integrated, accu- width is greater than 11 km4.5 km. The satellite is in a rate, autonomous, and controllable Earth observation

National Report 2016 leading position in the world. and navigation information system. In 2017, sixteen The Jilin-1 04/05/06 video satellite was successfully projects with sixteen research missions were started in launched on November 21, 2017. It uses an integrated seven technical directions. In 2018, thirteen research design, with wide imaging, high-resolution imaging, missions will be launched in eight technical directions. multi-spectral imaging, video imaging and other obser- The total funding is one billion CNY[29, 30]. vation capabilities. It will gradually improve the con- 3.2.2 Global Change and Response stellation’s observation capabilities to better promote Global change has affected and will continue to affect remote sensing industrial applications and commercial the survival and development of mankind. Today, it has 

2018 marketing. On January 19, 2018, the Jilin-1 07/08 video become a major issue of political, economic and diplo- satellite was launched. This is a commercial high-re- matic concern to all countries in the world and to all solution optical remote sensing satellite with a resolu- sectors of society. To properly cope, global changes tion of 1 m and a width of 19 km. It has various imaging cannot be separated from the support of scientific re- modes such as conventional push-scan imaging, gaze search. In March 2016, the Ministry of Science and video imaging, and low-light imaging. Technology issued projects specific to global change On June 15, 2017, two video nanosatellites (OVS-1A and response: Global Change and Response focuses sp- and OVS-1B) were successfully launched. The satellites ecifically on the key processes, mechanisms and trends carry a hyperspectral camera and a visible light camera. of global change; Global Change Impact, Risk, Mitiga- Each satellite has a mass of 55 kg and an optical resolu- tion and Adaptation; Data Products and Big Data Inte- tion of 1.98 m. They have two working modes: staring gration Analysis; and Earth system model development. video and band imaging. Countries and regions should continue to deploy pro- jects in response to global changes and ways of sus- 3.2 National Key Research and Development Plans tainable development. In 2017, priority was given to 3.2.1 Remote Sensing and Navigation twenty-four research directions. In 2018, priority will be The Ministry of Science and Technology issued the na- given to twelve research directions, with a total funding tional key research and development plan for specific of 700 million CNY[31, 32]. projects in Earth observation and navigation. The goal of "Earth observation and navigation" focuses on a few 4. Perspectives on Trends in Earth topics. The plan faces the major needs of the country's Observation economic restructuring and construction of an ecologi- cal civilization. It addresses the implementation of the The United States released “Emerging Science and Belt and Road initiative and the new urbanization and Technology Trends: 2016–2045—A Synthesis of Lead- development planning, Earth science research, and other ing Forecasts Report” (April 2016) as an analysis of major needs. It is also a reaction to the harsh challenges source documents identifying 690 individual trends re- of global change and regional response, focusing on the lated to science and technology, as well as trends related forefront of the international development of Earth ob- to broader contextual factors that will shape the evolu- servation and navigation technologies. The plan signifi- tion of S&T over the coming decades. From this dataset, cantly enhances the technical support capabilities of 24 emerging science and technology trends were identi- comprehensive information on Earth observation and fied. Among them, the Internet of things, smart cities, navigation. The key breakthroughs are precision acqui- blended reality, mobile and cloud computing, space sition of information, quantitative remote sensing ap- technology, and technology for climate change were plications and other common key technologies for com- closely related to the future development of the Earth

·299· SPACE SCIENCE ACTIVITIES IN CHINA

[33] observation field . PM2.5 Pollution on Respiration and Circulation System in Winter With the progress of Earth observation research and in Beijing. Hebei Medical University the continuous improvement of CASEarth, our ability to [9] Guiping W, LIU Y (2016) Satellite retrieval of important ocean hydrological parameters: an overview. Adv Water Sci 27: 139–151 deal with huge dynamic data will be gradually improved [10] National Marine Environmental Monitoring Center for the First in China’s future. People will be able to use big data in Time Using Satellite Remote Sensing to Monitor Sargasso. http:// their lives, and in the meantime to force the government www.soa.gov.cn/xw/dfdwdt/jsdw_157/201707/t20170705_56835.h and various institutions to be responsible for their poli- tml. Accessed 7 Mar 2018 [11] “China Ocean Satellite Application Report 2016” Release. National Report 2016 cies. Big data in the field of Earth observation is be- http://www.soa.gov.cn/bmzz/jgbmzz2/kxjss/201801/t20180112_59 coming a new key to our cognition of Earth. Chinese 938.html. Accessed 7 Mar 2018 scientists are actively promoting research in this cross- [12] (2017) A Science Plan for Digital Belt and Road Program (DBAR): disciplinary field. To this end, the journal Big Earth An International Science Program for Sustainable Development of Data was formally inaugurated in February 2018, as a the Belt and Road Region using Big Earth Data [13] Guo H, Qiu Y, Menenti M, et al (2017) DBAR: International Sci- sister publication of the International Journal of Digital ence Program for Sustainable Development of the Belt and Road Earth, aiming to provide an efficient and high-quality Region Using Big Earth Data. Bull Chin Acad Sci 32: 2–9

[14] Guo H (2017) Steps to the digital Silk Road. Nature 554: 25–27  platform for promoting big data sharing, processing, and 2018 analysis, thereby revolutionizing our understanding of [15] Lin C, Li Y, Lau AKH, et al (2016) Estimation of long-term popu- lation exposure to PM 2.5 for dense urban areas using 1-km Earth’s systems. Another publication based in China, MODIS data. Remote Sens Environ 179: 13–22. doi: 10.1016/j.rse. the International Journal of Digital Earth, focuses on 2016.03.023 knowledge-based solutions to build and advance appli- [16] Jiang M, Weiwei S (2016) Investigating metrological and geo- cations to improve human conditions, protect ecological graphical effect in remote sensing retrival of PM2.5 concentration services and support future sustainable development for in Yangtze River Delta. IEEE, pp 4108–4111 [17] Beijing University (2017) Air quality assessment report (IV) - As- environmental, social, and economic conditions. They sessment of regional pollution status in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei will become an important guide in the field of Earth [18] Advances in Remote Sensing Monitoring of Marshland-Stereo observation, and will continue to make important con- Plateau Wetland in Chengdu Mountain Regions. http://www. tributions to driving innovation in the discipline, ulti- imde.ac.cn/yjld_2015/201710/t20171009_4868741.html. Accessed mately to influence sustainable development. 8 Mar 2018 [19] China restates ecological research for cowfish: Monitoring habitat environment using unmanned aerial vehicle remote sensing for the References first time. http://china.cnr.cn/xwwgf/20171112/t20171112_52402- 2055.shtml. Accessed 8 Mar 2018 [1] SDGs: Sustainable Development Goals. https://sustainabledevelo- [20] Remote sensing technology helps protect ecological environment pment.un.org/sdgs. Accessed 7 Mar 2018 of Sanjiangyuan Nature Reserve. http://www.cgs.gov.cn/gzdt/zsdw/ [2] Gao Y, Gao X, Zhang X (2017) The 2 °C Global Temperature 201709/t20170913_439502.html. Accessed 8 Mar 2018 Target and the Evolution of the Long-Term Goal of Addressing [21] Global Ecological Environment Monitoring Report 2017 Annual Climate Change—From the United Nations Framework Convention Report" released. http://www.most.gov.cn/kjbgz/201711/t20171122_ on Climate Change to the Paris Agreement. Engineering 3: 136375.htm. Accessed 8 Mar 2018 272–278. doi: 10.1016/J.ENG.2017.01.022 [22] Yuan Y (2017) New construction, heritage first. GuangMing Dly. [3] Huadong G, Han X (2016) Earth Observation for the Belt-Road [23] (2018) Protecting cultural relics during the construction of the and Digital Belt-Road Initiative. Bull Chin Acad Sci 31: 535–541 XiongAn new area. http://www.sach.gov.cn/art/2018/2/1/art_722_ [4] Ren Y, Guo H, Liu G, Ye H (2017) Simulation Study of Geometric 146839.html. Accessed 7 Mar 2018 Characteristics and Coverage for Moon-Based Earth Observation in [24] Yuhang P, Xuan Z, Yuansheng Z (2017) Research on thermal in- the Electro-Optical Region. IEEE J Sel Top Appl Earth Obs Re- frared anomaly of Taiwan MS5.9 earthquake in October 6, 2016. mote Sens 10: 2431–2440. doi: 10.1109/JSTARS.2017.2711061 Gansu Sci Technol 2: 22–24 [5] Ye H, Guo H, Liu G, Ren Y (2017) Observation scope and spatial [25] Lifeng Z (2016) The applied study in predicting earthquake using coverage analysis for earth observation from a Moon-based plat- satellite remote sensing data of medium wave infrared. Lanzhou In- form. Int J Remote Sens 1–25. doi: 10.1080/01431161.2017.1395976 stitute of Seismology, CEA [6] Guo H (2017) Big Earth data: A new frontier in Earth and informa- [26] Binhong H, Ran W, Bingrong Z, et al (2017) Grid-based Estima- tion sciences. Big Earth Data 1: 4–20. doi: 10.1080/20964471.2017. tion of Snow Disaster Risk in Qinghai Province. Arid Zone Res 5: 1403062 1035–1041 [7] Wu W (2016) Aerosol Inversion Based on MODIS Data and Its [27] Jianming Y (2016) The platform design of remote sensing moni- Relationship with Cardiovascular Mortality. Southwest Jiaotong toring for snow accumulation and sand along the One Belt and One University Road area. Jining University [8] Chen X (2016) Research the Time Series Analysis the Effect of [28] Release of the first batch of microwave remote sensing images of

·300· GUO Huadong, et al. Progress of Earth Observation and Earth Science in China

GF3 satellite. http://www.xinhuanet.com/science/2016-08/26/c_ [31] (2017) Notice of the national key research and development plan 135633187.htm. Accessed 7 Mar 2018 about the important specific project guide in global change and re- [29] (2017) Notice of the national key research and development plan ab- sponse. Beijing: Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST). out the important specific project guide in earth observation and navi- [32] (2018) Notice of the national key research and development plan gation [R]. Beijing: Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) about the important specific project guide in global change and re- [30] (2018) Notice of the national key research and development plan sponse. Beijing: Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST). about the important specific project guide in earth observation and [33] Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Research & navigation [R]. Beijing: Ministry of Science and Technology Technology) (2016) Emerging Science and Technology Trends: National Report 2016 (MOST) 2016-2045 — A Synthesis of Leading Forecasts Report

 2018

·301·