Results of Japanese Ibuki Satellite's Observations of Greenhouse Gases and Cloud Cover Released

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), and Ministry of the Environment jointly released to the public on February 18, 2010, the validation results from Ibuki, the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT).

Upon completion of the initial validation of atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), which were obtained by analyzing observational data collected by the satellite, launched on January 23, 2009, they released the global concentration data and cloud coverage information, available in both Japanese and English on NIES website (below).

GOSAT makes it possible to obtain data for areas where there are very few ground-based observatories, including Siberia (summer), mid-eastern South America (year-round), Australia, Arabian Peninsula (year-round), Deccan Plateau (fall and winter), north-central Africa (year-round), and southern Africa (spring and summer).

By conducting the validation work, it was found that the distribution and seasonal changes of CO2 and CH4 concentrations collected by GOSAT were consistent with data from conventional ground-based and airborne observations. Upon further developing the quality of the analysis results, they plan to release new data on monthly values of regional CO2 emissions in the first half of 2011.

GOSAT Level 2 Products have been released to the Public
http://www.gosat.nies.go.jp/eng/related/2010/201002.htm

Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT) official website
http://data.gosat.nies.go.jp/

Posted: 2010/05/20 06:00:15 AM

TAG Global warming , Government , University/Research institute