"Aqua" Earth Observation Satellite

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May 18, 2006 Updated

AMSR-E data for the global numerical prediction model by the Japan Meteorological Agency

On May 15, 2006, the Japan Meteorological Agency started to use data acquired by onboard microwave radiometer sensors on satellites, including the AMSR-E, the Japanese sensor aboard the NASA satellite AQUA, for the global numerical prediction model.

Since Nov. 17, 2004, AMSR-E data has been used for the "meso numerical prediction model," which is used for small scale weather forecasts around Japan. It contributes to improve the forecast accuracy of local phenomena, such as localized heavy rain.

The observation data of the microwave radiometer provided this time includes the vapor volume in the lower atmosphere where observations have not been carried out so far. It is confirmed that the forecast accuracy of the path of a typhoon was improved by using the objective analysis (*1) of the global numerical prediction model.

  *1 Objective Analysis
  (Japan Meteorological Agency / Written in Japanese)
  http://www.kishou.go.jp/know/whitep/1-3-1.html


Figure 1:
Forecast errors of the center paths of Typhoons No. 11 to 18 in 2004
(Provided by the Japan Meteorological Agency)

The graph shows the forecasted path of typhoons at each forecast time. The red line shows the forecast objective analysis with microwave data and the blue line is for that without it. The red line is lower than the blue one most of the time, thus the forecast accuracy is improved by using microwave data. The blue dots are the number of samples used for accuracy verification (Y axis.)


Figure 2: Microwave radiometer data distribution example
(provided by the Japan Meteorological Agency)

Green: AQUA, Blue: TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission),
Red: DMSP 13, Orange: DMSP 14, Purple: DMSP 15
(US military meteorological satellites)

Figure 2 shows observation areas of the five sensors on the five satellites used for the analysis this time. The AMSR-E data (in green) covered oceans that the other satellites could not observe; therefore, the AMSR-E is imperative for covering oceans around the world.

The AQUA turned four years old on May 4, and the AMSR-E is also operating smoothly.

Overview

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An Earth-observation satellite to contribute to the understanding of the Earth's water cycle

qua is an American Earth-observation satellite that, as its name suggests, monitors from space various kinds of physical phenomena related to water and energy circulation. It conducts comprehensive observations of the interactions among the atmosphere, the oceans and the continents, and their effects on changes in the Earth's mechanism. Data gathered by this satellite include profiles of atmospheric temperature and humidity, clouds and precipitation, net radiation, snow and sea ice, sea-surface temperature, oceanic primary production, and soil water. These accumulated data are expected to be used to promote the further development of research on global environmental change, as well as to improve numeric weather forecasts.
Aqua was developed as a joint project by the United States, Japan and Brazil. It was launched from the Vandenberg Firing Range in California by the DELTA II launch vehicle in May, 2002. NASA was responsible for the spacecraft and its launch, while Japan and Brazil were in charge of various sensors. JAXA developed a radio sensor and the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for EOS (AMSR-E), which is helping obtain data to understand global-scale water and energy cycles.


AMSR-E is a sensor that can monitor the Earth day and night.

The antenna of AMSR-E has the largest-diameter microwave scanning radiometer (about 1.6 meters), and it can collect water data with an unprecedentedly high definition. AMSR-E uses microwaves instead of optical sensors, and thus can continue observation day and night, regardless of the weather, and without being interrupted by clouds. AMSR-E has demonstrated the usefulness and viability of microwave-based observation of the Earth's land and sea-surface under clouds.
The data obtained will be provided to the Japan Meteorological Agency and the Japan Fisheries Information Center. They are expected to improve the accuracy of weather forecasting and to provide other practical benefits.


Major Characteristics

International Designation Code 2002-022A
Launch Date May 4,2002
Launch Vehicle Delta 2
Location Vandenberg Launch Site in California, U.S.A.
Shape A box shape with a deployable solar array
Weight Approx. 3,100kg
Orbiter Sun synchronous, near-polar orbit
Altitude Approx. 705 km
Inclination Approx. 98 degrees
Period Approx. 99 minutes
Attitude Control Three-axis stabilization (Zero momentum)

Press Release

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August 16, 2007 (14:00)
Total area of sea ice in Arctic Ocean smallest since observations started - Much faster pace of ice melting than forecasted -
November 5, 2004 (18:00)
Data Deficit of Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for EOS (AMSR-E)
September 19, 2003 (14:00)
Publication of Higher Level Products of AMSR-E

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