Thermal And Near infrared Sensor for carbon Observation (TANSO)
on board
the Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite (GOSAT)

Research Announcement

Appendix F

User Category, Glossary and Abbreviation List

F.1

User Category

Users of GOSAT products are categorized as follows.

F.1-1 Categories of GOSAT product users
User category

Description

Project staff (PS)

Researchers, scientists, staff members, etc. who belong to the GOSAT
Project implementation body (Three Parties) or those who belong to otherorganizations but engage in the GOSAT Project as contractors to the ThreeParties.

RA Investigator (RA)A cooperative investigator who works with the PI to carry out the research
activities represented by the PI and is registered by the Three Parties.

RA* Investigator

An RA Investigator who researches on a theme in the algorithm orcalibration/validation fields.

(RA*)
RA+ Investigator(RA+)
Science Team
member (ST)Science Team
member* (ST*)
General user (GU)F.2

An RA Investigator who researches on a theme in the models or dataapplication fields.
Member of the GOSAT Science Team (excluding those members whoresearch on themes in the calibration/validation field.)
A Science Team member who researches on a theme in the algorithm orcalibration/validation fields.
A general GOSAT data user who does not fall under any of the above
categories.

Glossary and Abbreviations List

The following tables list up and explain the terms and abbreviations used in the RA.

Table F.2-1 GlossaryTerm
RA Investigator

Description
An investigator who carries out the research on a theme selected in the RA.
He or she works with the PI to carry out the research activities represented
by the PI, and is registered by the Three Parties.

F-1

Term
RA Selection andEvaluationCommittee(TheCommittee)
Apodization

Description
A committee which selects research proposals submitted in response to theRA and provides the Three Parties with advice in the process of selecting
research themes. The committee also evaluates the progress and results of
the research by the selected RA Investigators and provides the Three Parties
with necessary advice.
It represents a convolution procedure using a pseudo weighting function(apodizing function) as a function of the optical path difference when theinterferogram is Fourier-transformed into the spectrum. The interferogram ismultiplied by the apodizing function before the Fourier transform.

In thecase of no apodization, the instrumental line shape function is the sincfunction. Generally, the apodization makes the full width at half maximumof a instrumental line shape function larger, although unphysical oscillationof the sinc function is suppressed.
Along-track direction

Flight direction of the satellite on the spacecraft fixed coordinates.

Interferogram

Patterns of interferometric light obtained as a result of the following steps: i)split incident light into two beams using the beam splitter, ii) change one ofthe path lengths of the two split beams, and iii) let the two beams of lightinterfere with each other again.

Inverse modelA method (model) to estimate the sources and sinks and the emission andabsorption of atmospheric constituents of interest, such as CO2, using
observation data such as the GOSAT data, with the combined use of
atmospheric transport models and statistical techniques.

Aerosol

A microscopic liquid or solid particle floating in the atmosphere.

Original data

Products provided by JAXA or NIES. This should be distinguished fromthe data obtained as a result of the research carried out by RA Investigators.

Observation request

A request for specific data acquisition for a specific purpose, such as anobservation over a calibration/validation site, which is not covered by
GOSAT’s routine observation (in lattice point).

Geometric correction

A process of correcting the positional information in observation data, suchas band-to-band registration, correction of the latitude and longitudes ofobservation points based on elevation information, etc.

Gaseous column

The total amount of gas present in the vertical air column per unit area.

amount(Number of molecules per unit area).

(column abundance)
Gaseous

Vertical distribution of gaseous concentrations (Number of molecules perconcentration profile

unit area or volumetric ratio of the target species per unit area)

F-2

Term

Description

Cross-track direction

The direction perpendicular to the flight direction of the satellite on thesatellite fixed coordinates.

Gain

The signal amplification factor used for amplifying signals to an appropriate
signal processing level (voltage), set up by using commands for every
brightness (light intensity) of observation targets. For GOSAT, there arethree gain setting levels each for FTS and CAI: L (Low), M (Middle), and H(High).

Validation stage

GOSAT L2 and L3 products will undergo the following three validation
stages before released and distributed to users.
(i) Initial check
Visual check on the result of processing of certain observation data, inorder to confirm the validity of calibration of the sensor characteristics
and data processing algorithms.
(ii) Validation analysis:
Comparison of GOSAT observation data with validation data, in order toevaluate the reliability of the products.
(iii) Confirmation after the release:
Check to be performed after releasing the products to limited users, tosee if any problem with the products is reported after a certain period oftime.
The products are categorized into four stages in the process of thesevalidation steps, namely U (Unchecked), P (Preliminarily checked), V(Validated), and C (Confirmed). These stages are called the “validationstages”.

Corner cube

A trihedral made up of three planer reflectors which are perpendicular toeach other. The light injected into the trihedral bounces on each of thethree planes and will always return to the incident direction.

Science TeamAn organization established for the purpose of providing the GOSAT Projectwith scientific advice.

Sunglint

Specular reflection of the sunlight on the water surface, in general. In thisphenomenon, the specular reflection point is on the same plane as the sun
and the sensor, and the reflection angle is the same as the incidence angle.
However, as the intensity of the reflected light reaching the sensor is thestrongest in the vicinity of such a reflection point, FTS observes the vicinityof specular reflection points for its water-surface observation.

ScanThe unit of acquisition of one interferogram by FTS.

F-3

Term
Instrument

Descriptionfunction Calibration performed with consideration given to the wavelength

calibration

dependence of the sensitivity .

Atmospheric transport A numerical model to estimate the distribution of an atmospheric constituent
modelof interest (e.g., CO2, CH4) and its variation under certain condition.

Incase of CO2 (or CH4), the model simulates the variation of its concentration
based on the existing flux data, with meteorological data (air temperature,wind parameters, etc.) and chemical reactions in the atmosphere taken intoconsideration.
Dichroic filter

An optical filter which passes only light with specific wave number bandand reflects the other.

Sun-synchronous
sub-recurrent orbit

An orbit combining a sun-synchronous orbit and a sub-recurrent orbit,
having the characteristics of the two. In the former orbit, the orbital planeof the satellite rotates once while the earth revolves the sun once (onerevolution). In the latter orbit, the satellite returns to almost the same orbit
at a certain interval (recurrence).

GOSAT returns to almost the same

footprint after 44 orbits in three days.

The descending node time (localsolar time) is adjusted to around 13 o’clock, and the local time at the nadir
point of the satellite is almost the same time at medium and low latitudes.
Carbon flux
estimation model

A model to estimate the emission and absorption of carbons for a region (acertain scale which the entire globe is divided into), based on thedistributions of CO2, etc. in the atmosphere obtained by GOSAT orotherwise together with meteorological data.

Observation in lattice
point

Regular observation of FTS on the fixed ground points (lattice points).

In

all the five pointing modes (depending on the number of points per scan, 1,3, 5, 7, or 9), the sensor observes the same footprint every recurrence after
three days.

Specific point

Observation over specific ground points other than the lattice points

observation

observed in the routine observation, such as calibration/validation sites,
observation points along a natural gas pipeline, etc.

Source inventory

Information concerning the location and volume of sources of carbon orother species.

Band pass filter

An optical filter which passes only light with wave numbers in a certain
range, and rejects (attenuates) light with wave numbers outside that range.

F-4

Term
Full-width

atDescription
half An indicator of the spread (width) of a chevron-shaped function, such asmaximum (FWHM)

instrument function.

It is defined as the difference in the wavelengths orwave numbers at the two points where the value of the function marks a halfof the maximum.
Radiance calibration

Correction process of converting integer values (digital numbers) ofobservation data to the radiance unit, using various observation data.
The abbreviation of the Principal Investigator, who represents the group ofPI (Principalinvestigators who engage in the research activities on the research theme

Investigator)

adopted in the RA and serves as the contact person to the Three Parties on
all matters relating to the joint research agreement.

Beam splitter

Fourier

An optical device which splits a light flux into two. A part of the light
injected into the beam splitter reflects back and the other part penetrates. A
beam splitter which splits polarization components is called a polarized
beam splitter.

Transform An observing instrument which observes the interferometric light

Spectrometer (FTS)(interferogram) acquired with the interferometer, and Fourier-transforms it
into radiance spectra.

In the GOSAT Project, the spectrometer is applied tomeasure the absorption spectra of CO2, CH4, etc.
ProductAn electronic file, containing the processed results of GOSAT’s observation
data, prepared in the predetermined format for distribution to users.

Productdistribution A request made by an RA investigator for provision of data products

requestnecessary for implementing the research on the selected theme.

Spectral resolution

The minimum difference in wavelength, in case of the wavelength
resolution, or wave number, in case of the wave number resolution, that thespectrometer can determine.

Polarization

Light of which the electric or magnetic field oscillates in a specificdirection.

ManeuverAn activity to control the attitude, speed, etc. , consequently orbit, of thespacecraft, by thrusting its control engine, etc.

It is performed in order tomaintain or change the spacecraft to the expected attitude or orbit.
Land

ecosystem A model which expresses the exchange processes of heat, water, carbon, etc.

model(e.g., photosynthesis, respiration) between the land ecosystem, comprised offorest, pasture, etc., and the atmosphere.

F-5

Table F.2-2 Abbreviation List
Abbreviation

Description

ADEOS

ADvanced Earth Observation Satellite

ADEOS-II/GLI

ADvanced Earth Observation Satellite-II/GLobal Imager

AERONET

AErosol RObotic NETwork

AIRS

Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder

ALOS

Advanced Land Observing Satellite

ASE

Association of Space Explorers

ASTER

Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer

ATAlong Track

CALIPSO

Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation

CAM

monitor CAMera

CME

Continuous CO2 Measuring Equipment

CNES

Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (in French) : National Center of SpaceStudies (in English)

CSIRO

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization

CT

Cross Track

DB

Diode Box

DEM

Digital Elevation Model

ENVISATENVIronmental SATellite

EOS

Earth Observing System (NASA Project)

FFT

Fast Fourier Transform

GAW

Global Atmosphere Watch (WMO Project)

GCP

Ground Control Point

GOME

Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment

GOSAT

Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite

GSFC

Goddard Space Flight Center(NASA)

GSHHS

Global Self-consistent Hierarchical High-resolution Shorelines

HDF

Hierarchical Data Format

HITRAN

HIgh-resolution TRANsmission molecular absorption database

HSTAR

High-resolution System for Transfer of Atmospheric Radiation

IASI

Infared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer

IGM

InterferoGraM

F-6

Abbreviation

Description

IIR

Imaging Infrared Radiometer

ILAS

Improved Limb Atmospheric Spectrometer

IMG

Interferometric Monitor for Greenhouse Gas

IRS

Indian Remote Sensing satellite

JAXA

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

JERS

Japanese Earth Resources Satellite

JPL

Jet Propulsion Laboratory

LLM

Light Load Mode

LUT

Look Up Table

MAP

Maximum A Posteriori

MDPMission Data Processor

MODIS

MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer

MOE

Ministry Of the Environment of Japan

MOS

Marine Observation Satellite

MTF

Modulation Transfer Function

NDACC

Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change

NDVI

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index

NetCDF

Network Common Data Form

NIES

National Institute for Environmental Studies (Japan)

NIR

Near InfraRedNOAANational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

OCO

Orbiting Carbon Observatory (NASA Spacecraft)

OMI

Ozone Monitoring Instrument

POLDER

POLarization and Directionality of the Earth's Reflectances

PPDF

Photon Pathlength Distribution Function

PRISM

Panchromatic Remote sensing Instrument for Stereo Mapping

U,P,V,C

Unchecked,Preliminary checked,Validated,Confirmed (Stages of Validation)

RA

Research Announcement

RAMCES

Reseau Atmospherique de Mesure des Composes a Effet de Serre (inFrench) : Near Real Time CO2 Concentration (in English)

ROLO

RObotic Lunar Observatory

RSTAR

Remote sensing System for Transfer of Atmospheric Radiation

F-7

Abbreviation

Description

SAR

Synthetic Aperture Radar

SCIAMACHY

SCanning Imaging Absorption spectroMeter for Atmospheric CartograpHY

S-LLM

Super-Light Load Mode

SNR

Signal to Noise Ratio

SPOT

Satellite Pour l'Observation de la TerreSPRINTARS

Spectral Radiation-Transport Model for Aerosol Species

STScience TeamSWIR

Short Wavelength InfraRed / Short Wave Infrared Radiometer

TANSO

Thermal And Near infrared Sensor for carbon Observation

TANSO-CAITANSO－Cloud and Aerosol Imager

TANSO-FTS

TANSO－Fourier Transform Spectrometer

TCCON

Total Carbon Column Observing NetworkTES

Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer

TIR

Thermal Infrared Radiometer

TOMS

Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer

TRANSCOM

atmospheric tracer TRANSport model interCOMparison project

TRMM

Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission

USGS

U.S. Geological Survey

VGAVideo Graphics Array

WDCGG

World Data Centre for Greenhouse Gases

WFC

high-resolution Wide Field Camera

WMO

World Meteorological Organization

WWW

World Wide Web

ZPD

Zero Path DifferenceF-8