Application of Data Acquired by SHIZUKU at Japan Meteorological Agency

Observation data by the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer-2 (AMSR2) aboard the Global Change Observation Mission 1st – Water „SHIZUKU” (GCOM-W1) has been transmitted to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) in near-real time. The SHIZUKU was launched by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in May 2012. As data from the AMSR2 includes vapor and Sea Surface Temperature information in the atmosphere, JMA and JAXA cooperated to examine the best utilization of the acquired data, and advanced technological development for that purpose.
Consequently, we were able to confirm that precipitation forecast accuracy can be further improved in the numerical weather prediction system that compiles basic materials for weather forecasts, thus JMA started the data application on Sept. 12, 2013. The JMA also analyzes Sea Surface Temperatures across the Earth once a day, and AMSR2 data has also been used for that purpose from May 27, 2013, because the analysis quality has also been expected to improve.
JMA and JAXA are doing their best to develop a method to use valuable observation data from the satellite.

Source / Author: JAXA