Home / Environment / News Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read | Comment
Tokyo to monitor greenhouse gases from space
Adjust font size:

Japan's space agency will launch a satellite later this month to monitor greenhouse gases around the world, officials said yesterday, hoping the data it collects helps global efforts to combat climate change.

The Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT), to be launched on Jan 21, will enable scientists to calculate the density of carbon dioxide and methane from 56,000 locations on the Earth's surface, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said.

The coverage compares with just 282 land-based observation sites as of last October, said Takashi Hamazaki, manager of the 35 billion yen (US$372.9 million) JAXA project.

"To fight climate change, we need to monitor the density of greenhouse gases in all regions around the world and how their levels change," he said. "But at the moment, there are very few observation sites on land and they are concentrated in certain areas."

For example, sites monitoring greenhouse gases were lacking in developing countries, he said. GOSAT will cover those countries and also the atmosphere over seas.

Equipped with two sensors, GOSAT will track infrared rays from the Earth, which will help calculate the densities of the two greenhouse gases, because they absorb the rays at certain wavelengths.

The satellite will also pick up any sign of clouds, enabling it to process data only when the sky is clear. GOSAT, set to be in orbit for five years, will collect data once a month, with preliminary data expected to be ready for researchers in April or May.

Japan is under pressure to meet its 2008-2012 Kyoto Protocol target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions and is trying to be vocal in global talks on fighting climate change.

(China Daily via Agencies January 8, 2009)

Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read
Comment
Pet Name
Anonymous

China Archives
Related >>
- UN chief calls 2009 'year of climate change'
- Seawater science can help climate change forecasts
- EU leaders struggle to reach deal on climate change, reform treaty
- Greenhouse gases reach record highs in 2007: WMO
- G8 leaders agree to halve greenhouse gas emission by 2050
NGO Events Calendar Tips
- Environmental English Training (EET) class
- Hand in hand to protect endangered animals and plants
- Changchun, Mini-marathon Aimed at Protecting Siberian Tiger
- Water Walk by Nature University
- Green Earth Documentary Salon
More
Archives
Sichuan Earthquake

An earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale jolted Sichuan Province at 2:28 PM on May 12.

Panda Facts
A record 28 panda cubs born via artificial insemination have survived in 2006.
South China Karst
Rich and unique karst landforms located in south China display exceptional natural beauty.
Saving the Tibetan Antelopes
The rare animals survive in the harsh natural environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
More
Laws & Regulations
- Forestry Law of the People's Republic of China
- Meteorology Law of the People's Republic of China
- Fire Control Law of the People's Republic of China
- Law on Protecting Against and Mitigating Earthquake Disasters
- Law of the People's Republic of China on Conserving Energy
More
Links:
State Environmental Protection Administration
Ministry of Water Resources
Ministry of Land and Resources
China Environmental Industry Network
Chengdu Giant Panda Research Base