Better understanding of earth environment via satellite

Better understanding of earth environment via satellite

Mikio Takagi
Institute of Industrial Institute of Industrial Science,
University of Tokyo 7-22-1, Rppongi,
Minato-ku, Tpkyo-106 Japan

The Priority Area Programme on "Better Understanding of Earth Environment via Satellite" funded by the Ministry of Education has started from this year as a three year programme. This programme is the extension of the Special Research on "Higher Order Utilization of Remote Sensing Data from Space", which organized researchers in the fields of microwave, data processing, oceanography, meteorology and land, and covered researchers from basic ones to applications. As the result, a group with good co-operation was organized, much communication within the group was made, and each research was promoted strongly. Through this project the importance of earth observation by satellite was recognized and it was decided to propos a priority area programme to promote academic research corresponding to the trends that satellite observation becomes very active internationally towards 90's. The research plan was discussed and refined from 1986 to 87 supported by the General Research "education of Earth Environmental phenomena using Multi temporal and Multi Dimensional information observed by satellite", and submitted to the ministry of education and finally this programme was approved.

The objectives of this project are to establish observation techniques of various kinds of earth environmental and to promote basic researches to understand the mechanism of the variations of earth environmental based on earth observation information from space since the phenomena on the earth cover the wide area in atmosphere, hydrosphere and geosphere, first of all, measurement of phenomena is essential to the understanding of phenomena. Conventional measurement methods have the disadvantages that, if the region of interest becomes wider, the measurement points become corser, the measurement time changes from points to points and its frequency is much reduced. In 1960's as one of the most important results of space development, a new earth observation techniques; that is remote sensing from space, which has the following advantages: information covering a wide area can be acquired in a short time and the same area can be observed repeatedly, became available. Now, remote sensing its application fields become wider and wider. So far, LANDSAT, GMS, METEOSAT, GOES, NOAA, SEASAT, HCMM, NIMBUS, SPOT, MOS-1, and s on have been available earth observation satellites, and ERS, ERS-J, space stations and others are under development towards 90's.

Since various kinds of satellites are going to be launched, in 90's earth observation will change in quality and volume owing to satellite researches on earth environment such as atmosphere, ocean and land are very poor and their research structure is very weak. Therefore, there are a lot of problems to be solved. Now is the time to start the research in this field. Global monitoring of earth environment, better, understanding and prediction of global scale phenomena such as oceanic or atmospheric variations, management of earth resources attract world-wide interest. And it s expected that satellites will play an important role to solve these problems. Unfortunately, however, the system for academic research in these programme has been approved and realized. Such a global view is one of the mot important stand points of this programme and the outcome will contribute to solve social problems.

This programme intends to promote effective and characteristics well organized researches with close o-operation between science and engineering in both hardware and software sides. Researches covering wide fields have not been organized in Japan until the three years Special Research on "Higher order utilization of Remote Sensing data from Space" had started. In the previous research, close cooperation between scientists in geosciences such as oceanography and meteorology and in engineering such as data processing and remote sensing this research future research direction became more clearly. Namely, it was recognized that further intensive academic research is strongly required for better understanding of earth environment via global observation and that here has been no system in Japan for academic reachers to promote understanding of earth environment via satellite. Therefore, this programme intends to establish such a system.

The features of this programme lie in the points academic research from a new view point and common basic research to support it.

As academic research from a new view point problems, in boundary area, which have not been studied well by ordinary independent science fields such as atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere, will be the target of this research programme. For example, boundary system area between atmosphere and hydrosphere: Remote Sensing of air sea interaction system, boundary area between atmosphere and geosphere remote sensing of evaporation and exhalation - snow and rainfall interaction system, and boundary area between hydrosphere and geosphere: Remote Sensing of water circulation and soil moisture are selected. And technology and algorithm for higher order utilization of satellite data fro the global point of view are investigated.

As common basic technologies essential to the researches on boundary areas between atmosphere and hydrosphere, atmosphere and geosphere and hydrosphere and geosphere, research on measurement and information processing is promoted. As for measurement, microwave remote sensing was selected, because it is expected to play an important role in the future earth observation for each of atmosphere, hydrosphere and geosphere, but so far its basic research has not been studies well in Japan. And as another common basic technology, advanced information processing, which is essential in promote researches on atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere but also not been well developed, was picked up.

Through discussion on how to promote effective and characteristic well organized research programme with close co-operation between sciences and engineering in both hardware and software sides, the following five planned researches were selected.

Basic study on Earth Observations by Microwaves

Leader: Haruto IHROSAWA (Institute of Space and Astronautical Science)
Research radar Poralimetry
Haruto IHROSAWA (Institute of Space and Astronautical Science)
Basic research on Sea Surface process Measurement via satellite
Naoto EBWCHI (Faculty of Science, Tohoku University)
Measurement of Sea Ice Parameters by Microwave Remote Sensing
Nbno ONO (Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University)
Basic Research on Sea Surface Process measurement via satellites.
Yoshiaki TOBA (faculty of Science, Tohoku University)
Research on the improvement of measurement accuracy of sea wind and ocean wave by satellite.
Hisashi MITSUYASU (Research Institute for applied Mechanics, Kyushu University)
Grobal change Analysis of Biosphere using satellite data

Interaction between Atmosphere ad Terrestrial Aspects.
Leader : Shunji Murai (Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo)
Analysis of variation of Vegetation Index
Shunji Murai (Institute of Industrial Science, university of Tokyo)
Map and Geographic information system
Yukio KUBO (department of Geography, Ochanomizu University)
Image analysis image output
Toshibumi Sakata (Tokai Research and Information Center, Tokai University)
Hydrological analysis
Kuniyoshi TAKEUCHI (Faculty of Engineering, Yamanashi University). Botanical Ecology
Kazue FUJIWARA (Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, Yokohama National University).
Evaluation of Global Biological Ecology
Eiji YAMJI (Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tokyo)
Study on physical Process of Water Cycle over the Land

Leader : Jusei Kondo (Geophysical Institute of, Tohoku University)
Heat Budget of Vegetation and Bare soil
Junsei Kondo (Geophysical Institute, Tohoko university)
Analysis of Rainfall mechanism by satellite and Three - dimensional Radar
Shuichi IKEBUCHI (Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Koyoto University)
Analysis of Rainfall system in East Asia Terrestrial Region
Kuranoshim Kato (water Research Institute, Nagoya University)
Analysis of Snofal Phenomena by satellite Remote sensing
Toshio Koike (Nagaoka University of Technology)
Room Experiment of Trace of Soil Moisture by Microwave Remote sensing
Kastumi Mushiake (Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo.
Study of Air Sea interaction using satellite data

Leader : Yasuhiro Sugimori (Faculty of Marine Science and Technology, Tokai University)
Basic Research on Flux Estimation between Air and Ocean
Yasuhiro Sugimori (Tokai University)
Tetsuhisa Imazato (Faculty of Science, Tohoku University)
Masao Fukazawa (Faculty of Marine Science and Technology, Tokyo University)
Research on application of satellite Data to Atmospheric Process.
Rayuji Kumura (Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo)
Tsutomu Takashima (Meterological Research Institute)
Yoshinobu Wakata (Faculty of Marine Science and Technology, Tokai University)
Higher Order Processing of Earth Observation Information

Leader : Ryuzo Yokoyama (Faculty of Engineering, Iwate University)
Development of Time Space Description Model and Simulation Method of Environment Based on Earth Observation Information.
Ryuzo YOKYAMA (Faculty of Engineering, Iwate University)
Development of Integrated Interpretation processing of Earth Observation Information by Analytical Method.
Yoshihidsa Shimoda (Tokai Research and Information Center, Toaki University)
Development of Database on earth Observation Information
Mikio Takagi (Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo)
Yoshizumi YASUDA (Faculty of Engineering, Chiba University)

Each planned research makes a group with themes, which were selected from generally submitted proposals. Through this programme, the following developments are expected:

Understanding of the machanism of various phenomena with complicated mutual interaction in boundary area using satellite data. (Air-Sea interaction, Evaporation, exhalation and rainfall in water circulation. Soil moisture and in-and out-flow interaction and etc.
Trace of wide and long term global change (Deforestation and soil run out, variation of ocean current, dissertation, trace of NVI).
Evaluation and predication of earth environment (GIS, Evaluation of productivity of land).
Establishment of basis of microwave remote sensing technology.
Development of advanced information processing technology for earth environment information.

Working groups have been established to promote researches on the common problems in a group or inter-group problems. working groups are meetings, which is open widely for everyone interested in this field. So, the announcement is mailed to not only all members of the programme but also those who have interest in the programme. The following working groups started to work and a few is under consideration.

Working groups
Group B : Grobal Change Analysis of Biosphere Using Satellite Data.
Geographic Data base Chair : Ryutaro Tateshi (Chiba University)
Eco-Climate Map Chair : Kazue FujiWara (Yokohama National University)
Ozone Chair : Hiroshi Fukunisih (Tohoku University).

Group C : Study on Physical Process of water cycle over the land.
Water circulation of physical process of water cycle over the land

Group D: Study of air-sea interaction Using satellite data
Ocean color chair : Yasuhiro Sugimori (Tokai University)
Workstation Chair : Hajime Fukushima (Tokai University)

Group E : Higher Order Processing of Earth Observation information
NOAA satellite data analysis Chair : Ryuzo Yokoyama (Iwate University)
Inter-Group
Clouds viewed from satellite chair : Keikichi Naito (Tokai University)

General supervising Committee was organized by 18 members. Eight authorities related to this programme; Professors Tomio ASAI (Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo0, Hiroshi INOSE (Director, National Center for Science information system), hideaki Kunishi (Professor Emeritus, Koyoti University), Hiromi Shigai (Tsukuba University), Makoto NAGAO (Kyoto University), Jun NISHIMURA (Director, Institute of Space and Astronautical Science), Akira Miyawaki (Director, Environmental Science Center, Yokohama National University) and Ryzaburo Yamamoto (Kyoto University) were invited from the outside of the program to ask their evaluation and comments. And the members from the inside of the programme; processors Sadao KAWAGUCHI (National Institute of Polar Research), Takao TAKEDA (Water Research Institute, Nagoya University), Yoshiaki TOBA (Faculty of Science, Tohoku University) and Keiji Higuchi (Water Research Institute, Nagoya University), and group leaders joined the committee to decide the policy of the programme, to adjust the direction of research between groups and teams, to promote new project researches and to plan symposia.

Since this programme is widely open, it is highly expected and desirable to have international co-operative researches or project between researchers of other countries and our teams of groups.

Better understanding of Earth Environment via Satellite
Priority area programme for 1989-1991
Programme Leader : Mikio TAKAGI (University of Tokyo)

Group A: Basic study on Earth Observations by Micro waves Leader Haruto IHROSAWA (Institute of Space and Astronautical Science)
A-1	Basic Study on Earth Observations by Microwaves Haruto IHROSAWA (Institute of space and Astronautical science)
A-2	Estimation of Cloud water amount by Microwave Radio Meter Takao TAKEDA (Water Research Institute, Nagoya University)
A-3	Derviation of cloud and sea Ice distribution in the Antartic from Satellite Data Sadao KAWAGCHI (National Institute of Polar Research)
A-4	Basic Research for Microwave Remote Sensing of Terrestrial Environment Takeo ABE (Faculty of Engineering, Niigata University).
A-5	Studies on the Microwave Measuring Systems and collection of the Basic Data for the snow and Ice Observation by satellites. Masahire SUZUKI (Hokkaido Institute of Technology)
Group B:Grobal Change Analysis Bisphere using Satellite data Interaction between atmospheric and Terrestrial Aspects Leader: Shunji Murai (Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo)
B-1	Grobal Change Analysis of Biosphere Using satellite Data - interaction between Atmospheric and Terrestrial Aspects Shunji MURAI (Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo)
B-2	Monitoring of Land cover change by Global GIS Ryutar TATESHI (Remote Sensing and Image research Center Chiba University)
B-3	Estimation of Thermal Conditions of Classified image Mapped to a DEM and its Application to Forestral Zonation. Michio NOGAMI (Faculty of Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University)
B-4	Studies on the Estimation for Changing of Heart & water Transfer due to the deforestation using satellite data. Ikuo HORIGUCHI (department of agricultural egnienerign, Hokkaido University)
B-5	Analysis of Atmospheric Environments over Asia and Oceanic using satellite and surface data. Kazutaka IWASAKI (Faculty of letters, Hokkaido University)
B-6	Satellite Image Analysis on Retrieving Areal Rainfall for Vegetation Keikichi NATO (Institute of Research and Development, Tokai University)
B-7	Climate Environment in East Asis-Air MSS, Rainfall and Cloud distribution Jun MATSUMOTO (Faculty of Science, University of Tokyo)
B-8	Studies on long period variations of Stratospheric Ozone Based on the Nimbus 7 SBUV Observation. Isamu HIROTA (Faculty of Science, Kyota University)
B-9	Study of Stratospheric Ozone Variations Using NOAA TOVS data Hiroshi FUKUNISHI (Upper Atmospheric and space Research Laboratory, Tohoku University).
B-10	Study on the Atmospheric Environmental of the Earth by the by the Analysis of the Satellite Data. Akiyoshi MATSUZAKI (Institute of Space and Astronautical Science)
B-11	Profile Derivation of the Global Trace Gas Distribution from Satellite Data Nobuo TAKEUCHI (National Institute of Environmental Studies)
Group C: Study on Physical Process of Water Cycle over the Land Leader: Junsei KONDO (Geophysical Institute, Tohoko University)
C-1	Study on Physical Process of water Cycle over the Land. Junsei KONDO (Geophysical Institute : Tohoku University)
C-2	Analysis of Heat and water Balances of Complicated Landform Regions using Satellite Data. Takeshi KAWAMURA (Institute of Geosciences University of Tsukuba)
C-3	Snowmelt Runoff analysis based on the Data of NOAA, MOS-1 and National Digital Land information. Masaki SAWAMOTO (faculty of Engineering, Tohoku University)
C-4	Satellite Monitorings of the Antarctic Ice Sheet Margin and Shirase Glaciers Furnihiro NISIHO (National Institute of Polar Research.
C-5	Study on Variations of Glaciers and snow covers in South America, using Satellite data. Renji NARUSE (Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University).
C-6	Study on Transportation of Water Vapor on the Continentals by using Satellite Data and IAEA/WMO Isotope data.
C-7	Satellite Climatological Study of Large-Scale snowcover over the Northern Hemisphere Tetsuzo YASUNARI (Institute of Geoscience, University of Tsukuba)
Group D: Study interaction using satellite data Leader : Yasuhiro SUGIMORI (Faculty of Marine Science and Technology, Tokai, University).
D-1	Study of Air-Sea interaction using Satellite Data Yasuhiro SUGIMORO (Faculty of Marine Science and Technology, Tokai University)
D-2	Variability of Air-Sea interaction Fields and the assimilation to a numerical Ocean Model. Masahsia KUBOTA (Faculty of Marine Science and Technology, Tokai University)
D-3	A Sea study of Energy Flux Estimate through Sea surface using a microscale turbulence profiler. Seiichi KANANARI (Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo)
D-4	Study on Estimations of Precipitation over the North Pacific Kunio KUTSUWADA (Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo)
D-5	Studies on upwelling and Streamers around the Kuroshio and the Oyashio regions using satellite infrared thermal images. Takachige SUGIMOTO (OCean Research Institute, University of Tokyo)
D-6	Study of sea-surface height fluctuations observed by Geosat Altimeter Shrio IMAWAKI (Faculty of Science, Kyoto University)
D-7	Humidity Enclosures process enhanced by stream wise Vortices developed over sea surface. Yasuki KOHAMA(Faculty of Engineering, Tohoku University)
D-8	An observational study on the Law-Level-clouds over the sea of Okhotsk and the Western North Pacific during the Warm Season with Satellite-cloud-images. Yasumasa KODAMA (Faculty of Science, Hirosaki University).
D-9	Study of Tropical Air-Sea intersections using Global SatelliteData Toshio YAMAGATA (Research institute of Applied Mechanics, Kyashu University).
D-10	Procedure of Atmospheric Correction of Marine Remote Sensing Image Sonoyo MUKAI (Kanazawa Institute of Technology)
Group E: Higher order processing of Earth Observation information Leader : Ryuzo YOKOHAMA (Faculty of Engineering, Iwate University)
E-1	Higher Order processing of Earth Observation information Ryuzo YOKOHAMA (Faculty of Engineering, Iwate university)
E-2	Integrating Multiple information for Remote Sensing image analysis Takashi MATSUYAMA (Faculty of Engineering, Okayama University)
E-3	Research on High-level image processing in Remote Sensing fields using geographical Database as support knowledge. Masao SAKAUCHI (Institute of industrial science, University of Tokyo)
E-4	Recognition of Satellite images using Map Data Takashi KUSAKA (Kanazawa Institute of Technology)
E-5	Analysis of Spatial Information Contained of in satellite image data Kiyonari FUKUE (Institute of Research and Development, Tokai University)
E-6	The correction of Atmospheric and Topographic Effects on Satellite imagery over Rugged Terrain. Yoshiyuki KAWADA (Kanazawa Institute of Technology)
E-7	Geomorphological Study of the Yamato Mountains Region, Antarctica, using Satellite imagery and Radar Altimeter Data. Hideo YOSHIDA (National Institute of Polar Research)