Higashimatsuyama Earth Observation Center Entrance 1

The Earth Observation Center is a

Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency The is the Japanese national air and space agency. Through the merger of three previously independent organizations, JAXA was formed on 1 October 2003. JAXA is responsible for research, technology development and launch of satellites into or ...

(JAXA) aeronautical research facility located in Hatoyama, Saitama, Japan. It utilizes

remote sensing Remote sensing is the acquisition of information about an physical object, object or phenomenon without making physical contact with the object, in contrast to in situ or on-site observation. The term is applied especially to acquiring inform ...

technologies such as satellites to study Earth's environment from outer space. The research done by this center has a substantial impact on the study of the Earth's environmental phenomena, such as

global warming Present-day climate change includes both global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its wider effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes ...

Background

The Earth Observation Center was established in Hatoyama, Saitama in October 1978 to process data from many satellites in orbit. It was created as a part of the

National Space Development Agency of Japan The , or NASDA, was a Japanese national space agency established on October 1, 1969 under the National Space Development Agency Law only for peaceful purposes. Based on the Space Development Program enacted by the Minister of Education, Culture ...

(NASDA) Office of Earth Observation Systems. After NASDA merged its operations into JAXA in 2003, the EOC was also absorbed by JAXA. The EOC still exists as an integral component to JAXA's operations in the

satellite imagery Satellite images (also Earth observation imagery, spaceborne photography, or simply satellite photo) are images of Earth collected by imaging satellites operated by governments and businesses around the world. Satellite imaging companies sell im ...

sector. Jane's Space Industry and Industry
"Earth Observation Center (EOC) (Japan)"
'' IHS''. 6 February 2003. Retrieved on 17 October 2012.

Function

The primary function of the EOC is to collect, process, and archive imaging data from satellites in orbit. The EOC then sends the processed data to th
Remote Sensing Technology Center of Japan (RESTEC)
which is a center that receives this data and processes it for distribution to researchers and the public. This information is also stored on

magnetic tape data storage Magnetic-tape data storage is a system for storing digital information on magnetic tape using digital recording. Tape was an important medium for primary data storage in early computers, typically using large open reels of 7-track, later ...

in the EOC's archives and is converted into simple images which are available to the scientific community (laboratories, universities, governments) as well as to the general public through DVD's. The distribution of this data is used to monitor for environmental disasters as well as educate the world about environmental issues. The ultimate goal of the EOC is to describe Japan's future climate change as well as build upon the remote sensing technologies. Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency
"Earth Observation Center"
, February 2003. Retrieved on 17 October 2012.

Facility

The Earth Observation Center covers an area of 115,000 m2 - spread among a main building and two supplemental buildings. The EOC has many instruments used for high-resolution

and the development of sensors for

satellites. Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency
"Introduction to EOC.
February 2003. Retrieved on 20 October 2012. These instruments include four

parabolic antenna A parabolic antenna is an antenna that uses a parabolic reflector, a curved surface with the cross-sectional shape of a parabola, to direct the radio waves. The most common form is shaped like a dish and is popularly called a dish antenna or p ...

- two 10 meters, one 11.5 meters, one 13 meters in diameter - spread throughout the EOC campus which each channel data to high-density digital tape recorders for magnetic tape data storage. The EOC can handle 30 camera photos and 30 images from the

Synthetic Aperture Radar Synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) is a form of radar that is used to create two-dimensional images or 3D reconstruction, three-dimensional reconstructions of objects, such as landscapes. SAR uses the motion of the radar antenna over a target regi ...

, a radar that captures images of an object based on the object's relative motion, of the satellite

JERS-1 Japanese Earth Resources Satellite 1 (JERS-1) was a satellite launched in 1992 by the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA, now part of JAXA). It carried three instruments: *An L-band (HH polarization) synthetic aperture radar (SAR); ...

Contributions

The EOC has had an impact on the study of contemporary environmental phenomena of Earth including El Niño, Greenhouse Gases, and the cryosphere as well as environmental disasters such as fires, typhoons, and floods.

Environmental Analysis

Greenhouse Gases

One of the facets of the environment the EOC is known for analyzing is the study of

greenhouse gases Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are the gases in the atmosphere that raise the surface temperature of planets such as the Earth. Unlike other gases, greenhouse gases absorb the radiations that a planet emits, resulting in the greenhouse effect. T ...

in the atmosphere. The EOC conducted a three-month study for the monitoring of greenhouse gases lasting from January 2009 to March 2009 with the Izuki satellite. The Izuki determined the amount of visible light absorbed by the different levels of

Earth's atmosphere The atmosphere of Earth is composed of a layer of gas mixture that surrounds the Earth's planetary surface (both lands and oceans), known collectively as air, with variable quantities of suspended aerosols and particulates (which create weathe ...

. The EOC translated this light absorption data into a chart and determined the change in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentration. The EOC will continue to use this satellite to gather light data in order to determine if the amount of atmospheric greenhouse gas is increasing (a root of

). Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agenc
"First Thermal infrared spectra" Acquired by Onboard Sensors
19 March 2009. Retrieved on 31 October 2012.

Cryosphere

Most of the EOC's study on Earth's cryosphere deals with the ice levels in the world, namely the Arctic and Antarctic sea ice levels. The facility has conducted a study on Earth's

water cycle The water cycle (or hydrologic cycle or hydrological cycle) is a biogeochemical cycle that involves the continuous movement of water on, above and below the surface of the Earth across different reservoirs. The mass of water on Earth remains fai ...

through a quantitative analysis of Arctic sea ice shrinkage. The Aqua and Shizuku satellites compiled data used by the EOC to quantify the concentration of Arctic sea ice. The EOC determined how much ice melts throughout the course of a year and how global warming has affected the Arctic ice cap. Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agenc
"A new record minimum of the Arctic sea ice extent"
25 August 2012. Retrieved on 30 October 2012.

Disaster Analysis

Fires

The EOC has been involved in the analysis of fires - not just in Japan, but all across the Pacific including the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. Following the Southern California wildfires of October 2007, the EOC utilized the moisture, temperature, and humidity data of Southern California from the Aqua satellite in order to determine the cause of the fires. The analysis of the data done by the EOC showed that the soil

moisture content Water content or moisture content is the quantity of water contained in a material, such as soil (called ''soil moisture''), rock, ceramics, crops, or wood. Water content is used in a wide range of scientific and technical areas, and is expressed ...

dropped to very low levels on October 19. The analysis also showed that during the fires, the dry

Santa Ana winds The Santa Ana winds, occasionally referred to as the devil winds, are strong, extremely dry katabatic winds that originate inland and affect coastal Southern California and northern Baja California. They originate from cool, dry high-pressure ...

blew through Southern California and fueled the raging fires which lasted until early November. Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agenc

14 November 2007. Retrieved on 31 October 2012.

Floods

The EOC also performs analysis on the effect flooding has in regions such as Southeast Asia. During the flood in Thailand from July to December 2011, the EOC gathered images from the satellites Daichi and Izuki and created a graphic that illustrated the withdrawal of flood water from

Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...

back into the

Gulf of Thailand The Gulf of Thailand (), historically known as the Gulf of Siam (), is a shallow inlet adjacent to the southwestern South China Sea, bounded between the southwestern shores of the Indochinese Peninsula and the northern half of the Malay Peninsula. ...

. This graphic shows that most of the flood water receded during the month of December - effectively ending the Thailand flood. Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agenc
"Severe Flood in Thailand"
25 April 2012. Retrieved on 31 October 2012.

Satellites

Many satellites commissioned by JAXA and aeronautical institutions rest of the world share images and data with the EOC. Some of these satellites include: United States Geological Survey
"International Ground Station (IGS) Network"
17 October 2012. Retrieved on 17 October 2012. - Advanced Earth Observing Satellite (ADEOS) was launched by NASDA in August 1996 but was put out-of-order in July 1997 due to structural damage. - Advanced Earth Observation Satellite-II (ADEOS-II) was launched by NASDA in December 2002 but failed due to a faulty solar panel in October 2003. - Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) is a satellite launched by JAXA in January 2006. It is used to map terrain in Asia and the Pacific. - Earth Observing System-PM1 (AQUA) is a multi-national satellite commissioned by America's

NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the federal government of the United States, US federal government responsible for the United States ...

in May 2002. - European Remote Sensing Satellite (ERS) was the ESA's first Earth-observing satellite and was launched in July 1991. - Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT), also known as Ibuki, is a satellite launched by JAXA in January 2009 and is used to monitor concentration levels of greenhouse gases such as carbon monoxide and methane. - Japanese Earth Resources Satellite-1 (JERS-1) was a satellite commissioned by JAXA in 1992 and operated until 1998. - Land Satellite (LANDSAT) series from the

Landsat program The Landsat program is the longest-running enterprise for acquisition of satellite imagery of Earth. It is a joint National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA / United States Geological Survey, USGS program. On 23 July 1972, the Landsa ...

is a set of seven satellites commissioned by America's

NOAA The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA ) is an American scientific and regulatory agency charged with forecasting weather, monitoring oceanic and atmospheric conditions, charting the seas, conducting deep-sea exploratio ...

between 1972 and 1999. These satellites are designed to capture images of Earth. - Marine Observation Satellite (MOS) was Japan's first observation satellite, it has been inactive since November 1995. - Satellite Probatoire d'Observation de la Terre (SPOT) was initialized by and is mostly used by the French organization

CNES CNES () is the French national space agency. Headquartered in central Paris, the agency is overseen by the ministries of the Armed Forces, Economy and Finance and Higher Education, Research and Innovation. It operates from the Toulouse Spac ...

but is also utilized by the EOC. - Shizuku (satellite) (GCOM-W1) is a satellite launched in May 2012 and is used to observe Earth's water cycle. -

Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) was a joint space mission between NASA and JAXA designed to monitor and study tropical rainfall. The term refers to both the mission itself and the satellite that the mission used to collect data. ...

(TRMM) satellite is part of the joint mission between JAXA and NASA designed to monitor and study rainfall.

References

External links

Satellite Data
{{authority control Space technology research institutes JAXA facilities