ISSUE # 26
MARCH 2013

NIES GOSAT PROJECT NEWSLETTER ISSUE#26 MAR. 2013

CONTENTS
NEWSReport:­COP18­­

01

GOSAT PEOPLE­­­­­A­Series:­Supporting­GOSAT­Project­(2)­­いぶきIBUKI

NIES GOSAT PROJECT NEWSLETTER
Independent Administrative Institution
National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES)
A newsletter on the Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite(GOSAT, “IBUKI” ) project from the NIES GOSAT Project Oﬃce.

03-­Big­Stagehands­in­Level­1­Processing

ANNOUNCEMENT
9th­IWGGMS­to­be­held­in­late­May­

04

PUBLISHED PAPERS­

04

DATA PRODUCT UPDATE­

05

http://www.gosat.nies.go.jp/
NEWS Report: COP18Takahiro­Endo,­­Research­Associate,­
Center­for­Environmental­Measurement­and­Analysis,­­NIESFrom Nov. 26 to Dec. 8, 2012, COP18/CMP8(*1) was held in

Doha of Qatar, located on Arabian Peninsula (Photo 1). Qatar’s land

is a bit smaller than the half of Sardegna, Italy, populated with 1
million and 700 thousand people (as of 2011), major part of which
consists of foreign workers (only 300 thousands are Qatari); thecountry is encouraging various industries now to break away fromthe Oil-Gas-dependent economy.

how the conference looked like.

The conference took place at QNCC (Qatar National Convention

Center) 10km away from new Doha urban area filled with lines ofmodern buildings (Photo 2 bottom). During the period, free shuttle

buses were commuting between hotels in the city and QNCC for
the attendees’ convenience, however, they took 30 to 40 minutes
forth and 60 to 120 minutes back, because we from NIES stayedin old urban area (Photo 2 top), a bit away from QNCC. The traffic
was generally slow, but the main reason for longer time the way
back was the bus route, picking riders at all sites of events hostedby Qatar. That would be a best operation to serve random arrival of
way-back commuters.

Photo1­­The­image­is­generated­from­CAI­L1B+­data­(R:­G:­B­=­band3:­
band2:­band1)­captured­on­Dec.­2,­2012­(in­COP18­period),­and­overlaid­on­Google­Earth.­Brown­dots­in­the­center­and­north-east­of­the­right­
photo­show­irrigation­agriculture.

NIES (National Institute for Environmental Studies) has joined theconference with an exhibition booth since the 10th as an NGO(*2)
to introduce the latest research activities on global warming andclimate change. GOSAT project has been one of the main featuresof NIES, appealing its significance and achievement. This is toreport how I attended and introduced the latest outcomes of theproject as a member of GOSAT-2 Project Preparation Team andPhoto2­­­Old­(top)­and­new­(bottom)­urban­area­of­Doha1­­

NIES GOSAT PROJECT NEWSLETTER ISSUE#26 MAR. 2013

QNCC was as large as Tokyo Big Sight but with much playful

they wanted to understand the real status of social change andpaved with LED tubes set in the conference hall (Photo 3), exhibit

measure of GOSAT. When I referred to the value of broader ground-spirit found, for example, in an enormous spider objet and a pond

environmental deterioration they perceived by using the scientificbased observation network, TCCON(*4) for example, some delegatesarea, and connecting space in between, adding some taste to its
inorganic atmosphere.

from African government proposed the possibility of constructionin their country. When I told that GOSAT data products were notfine enough at present to tell the status of a county or a specificregion of their interest but we would figure out a way in the future,they showed great expectation.

There was a common question made by young visitors, especiallyfrom African countries: Can I study at NIES as a student? “NIES is an

institute and can’t accept students if not as researchers; we haveno class curriculum” was my answer, grinding my teeth,

I am personally convinced of three things now; we should show

the significance and outcomes of GOSAT more in where policyrelated people gathers and should continue effort to increase

supporters; should create a new system in cooperation with JICA

and universities to accept those young visitors above, who arePhoto3   An objet in QNCC paved with LED tubes

strong buds to be GOSAT supporters; should have not only theAttendees had to go through security check as at airports tostandpoint of observation but of “assessing” the policies executedenter, where everyone was scanned and identified with a picture

to realize low-carbon society which requires global cooperation.

ID card issued on pre-registration for qualification and attending

GOSAT project is surely able to carry out these challenges.

period. The site was divided into 5 zones for meetings, delegations,exhibits, media, and restaurants. We, NGO, were allocated toexhibits zone where NIES and ESA (European Space Agency) werethe only two organizations of over 200 NGOs worldwide to feature
remote sensing. The US, a tough presenter, sent NASA to thedelegations’ zone, not to the exhibits zone, taking this opportunity
to show its activities extensively.

Attendees from NIES left Narita on Nov. 24 to arrive in Doha thenext day, staying until Dec. 4 to work on publicity. Our exhibit

focused on “What is GOSAT?”, “What is the GOSAT’s possible
contribution to our global society?”, and “What are the present andfuture GOSAT data products and how can our society be changed

Photo4   Endo at NIES booth answering visitors’ questions

by them?” to explain after consulting with Dr. Yokota, GOSAT
Project Leader, and Dr. Matsunaga, GOSAT-2 Project Preparation

COP19 will be held in Warsaw, Poland, in 2013. We sincerelyTeam Deputy Leader, to assume majority of the visitors to be morehope GOSAT supporters to increase around the world through ourpolicy-related than science-minded, who knew not much of remotepublicity activities in COP.

sensing. We put up a poster explaining the outline of GOSAT
and a tapestry of GOSAT borrowed from JAXA (Japan Aerospace*1Exploration Agency) on the wall most visible to the visitors’ flow,
and explained L2 (CO2 and CH4 column-averaged mixing ratios)

Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto

and L4 (global CO2 flux) data product on two LCD monitors on thetable. We also prepared 700 CDs
distribute to the visitors.

(*3)

COP18: 18th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United

Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change / CMP8: 8th session of theProtocol. Official site: http://unfccc.int/2860.php (in English, Spanish, French)

including GOSAT materials to*2 NGO: Non-Governmental Organization*3Pamphlet included in the distributed CD can be seen or downloaded at"GOSAT Project/Download GOSAT Pamphlet", and related additional leaflet is

NIES booth collected many visitors to distribute more than 100

available at "Leaflet"; both are on http://www.gosat.nies.go.jp/index_e.html.

CDs every day, being very successful throughout the period (Photo*44). 20% of visitors had already known GOSAT and many of theTCCON: Total Carbon Column Observing Network is a network of theground-based high-resolution FTSs observations. Currently, its observations arerest were interested when they were explained the significancecarried out in more than 20 locations worldwide. TCCON's column-averaged

and activities of GOSAT and came up with questions of “Whatvolume mixing ratios of greenhouse gases are used for validating greenhouse

are the flux of my county or local region?” or “How have we beengases observation by satellites and other carbon cycle studies.

affected by our own CO2 emission, as I myself am a member of the*5 JICA：Japan International Cooperation Agency

delegation from an oil-producing country?”, and so on. I supposed2­­

NIES GOSAT PROJECT NEWSLETTER ISSUE#26 MAR. 2013

GOSAT PEOPLE A Series: Supporting GOSAT Project (2)Big Stagehands in Level 1 Processing
Kei Shiomi, Earth Research Observation Center / Shinichi Fukagawa, Mission Operations System Office,Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
What is Level 1 processing of IBUKI data?

Level 1 process development and First LightIBUKI , the Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite (GOSAT), launched

Expectations people had on IBUKI were very great because theSpectrometer TANSO-FTS (hereafter FTS), and the cloud and aerosol

NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO), a powerful competitor ofobservation data acquired by these sensors is handled by Japan

JAXA had just started the development of GOSAT in March 2005,

on Jan. 23, 2009, is equipped with 2 sensors: Fourier Transform first commitment period of Kyoto Protocol was to start in 2008, andimager TANSO-CAI (hereafter CAI). Level 1 processing for the GOSAT, was planned to launch also in 2008.
Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

and the target launch date was set on August 2008 under theObservation data, FTS data for example, is stored as electric signal of watchword “Launch GOSAT before OCO!” Actual launch date wasoptical interference pattern acquired by FTS. GOSAT data processing January 2009, however, the development process was shortest ever,system in JAXA transforms the pattern into spectra of observed light never experienced in the past. (OCO was launched in February 2009,by Fourier transformation. This process is called Level 1 processing but could not go into orbit because of fairing(*1) separation failure.)
and the data storing the spectra is called Level 1B data (Figure 1).

Also ground equipment had to be developed on time. Only 2

Level 1 data processed by JAXA is the base of higher-level processing persons were assigned in JAXA then, who anyway started to design

at National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES): generation of and develop the ground equipment under cooperation of related
Level 2 data product (CO2/CH4 column-averaged mixing ratios) andLevel 3 and 4 data product (global distribution and flux).

engineers in 2004.

TANSO sensors were also under development on a very tightThe optical interference pattern is affected by the micro-vibration schedule to make as better sensors as possible, which made theof on-orbit IBUKI or minimal characteristics of parts in sensors andsensor development group kept away from organizing design

quality check of observation data are important at Level 1 processing.

required for designing Level 1 processing algorithm.

circuits, which create noise in spectra. The noise correction and information and minimal characteristics of each sensor or circuitAs 1% change in CO2 concentration is represented as only 0.3%

How on earth can we prepare L1 algorithm on time for the launch!

change of spectra at most, we always pursue the precision increaseof Level 1 processing to ensure 0.3% relative precision for radiance.

Technical information required for the development of Level

1 processing algorithm was not prepared enough, however, adesign team was organized in NEC who was in charge of sensor
development, and started work in February 2006.

Design information required to be embedded in Level 1 correction

process was gradually collected along with the progress of sensor

development, but the team had to wait for the complete set ofnecessary information until September 2008, only 4 months before
the launch.

To compress the process development period, we asked the team

to develop minimal necessary part of algorithm for launch and test
before launch, and we managed to be ready for January 2009 launch.

The first event after the launch was to process the First Light (thecarbon dioxide

first observation) data. We acquired FTS SWIR spectra and CAI image
data on February 7, 2009, and FTS TIR spectra on March 12, 2009, tomethane

release to general public. Processing of data and image took quite along time in the operation room in cooperation with engineers. Ourchests really swelled anticipating the coming success of GOSAT when

写真 1

praised by researchers around the world, "Beautiful spectra!"

JAXA started to send Level 1 data to NIES on April 23, 2009, at lastafter repeated revision of algorithm to meet the starting time toFigure1 Schematic of Level 1 processing

check each item of the satellite and sensors. That was really the timeof being on the edge of our seats.

3­­NIES GOSAT PROJECT NEWSLETTER ISSUE#26 MAR. 2013

documents or engineering models of sensors, because TANSOs areon-orbit. When the causes are proved, algorithm is studied for thecorrection.

These works are handled by a team including engineers whodeveloped sensors, because that cannot be executed only byengineers in ground equipment, This quiet dedication supports muchfurther improvement of Level 1 data precision.

Photo1 Engineers involved in data and image processing of the First Light(front row from left, Mr. Imanaka, Ms. Kataoka, Ms. Higuchi; back row fromleft, Mr. Kowata, Mr. Mitomi, Mr. Kato)

Improvement of Level 1 processing after launch

Level 1 processing is still improving by continuous calibration andvalidation for better data quality in cooperation with researchers inJapan and around the world, such as those in NIES, NASA/JPL, etc.

In calibration, difference in radiance spectra of Level 1 data between

Photo2Engineers working on Level 1 algorithm development andprecision improvement (from left, Mr. Kondo, Mr. Suzuki, Mr. Yamamoto,GOSAT and other satellites (AIRS, for example) is analyzed; in Mr. Nagatsuka, Mr. Yoshida, Mr. Nakamura; in square windows from left, Ms.
validation, difference in retrieved CO2 concentration between GOSAT Kasai, Mr. S. Iguchi, Mr. M. Iguchi, Mr. Miyahara, Mr. Tamagawa)and ground-based observation data is analyzed; these analyses areused to estimate causes of difference rooted in sensor characteristics. *1 A structure located at the top of a rocket to protect things inside such as
The estimated causes are checked their correctness on design

ANNOUNCEMENTa satellite from vibration, heat, etc., at the launch.

9th IWGGMS to be held in late May

The 9th IWGGMS (International Workshop on Greenhouse Gas Date/Time: May 29(Wed) afternoon - 31(Fri), 2013

Measurements from Space) is going to be held as shown right.

This workshop intends to assess the latest science and technologies

Venue: Yokohama Symposia, Industrial Trade Center 9F, 2 YamashitaCho, Naka-Ku, Yokohama-city, 231-0023 Japanin spaceborne measurement of greenhouse gases, addressing new

http://www.yokohama-cci.or.jp/symposia/ (Japanese only)

findings by the current and past missions (GOSAT, AIRS, SCIAMACHY, Key Deadlines:

Abstract Due: March 31(Sun), 2013 (JST)TES, IASI, etc) as well as the next-generation missions (OCO-2, TanSat,GOSAT-2, CarbonSat, microCarb, etc).

Admission is free. See URL below for more details.

https://www.w5ss.com/IWGGMS-9/

Registration Deadline*: May 7(Tue), 2013 (JST)*Deadline for participants who need to obtain invitation letters for entry visa
application is March 20(Wed), 2013 (JST).

PUBLISHED PAPERS
Field of Research: data processing algorithm
Name of Journal:		 Atmospheric Measurement Techniques(Volume 6, pages 263-274, 2013)
Title: Water vapor isotopologue retrievals from high-resolution GOSAT
shortwave infrared spectra
Authors: C. Frankenberg, D. Wunch, G. Toon, C. Risi, R. Scheepmaker, J.-E.
Lee, P. Wennberg, J. Worden
Field of Research: data processing algorithm, validation
Name of Journal:		 Applied Optics(Volume 52, pages 1339-1350, 2013)
Title: Simultaneous retrieval of atmospheric CO 2 and light pathmodification from space-based spectroscopic observationsof greenhouse gases: methodology and application to GOSAT
measurements over TCCON sitesAuthors: S. Oshchepkov, A. Bril, T. Yokota, Y. Yoshida, T. Blumenstock,
N.M. Deutscher, S. Dohe, R. Macatangay, I. Morino, J. Notholt,
M. Rettinger, C. Petri, M. Schneider, R. Sussman, O. Uchino, V.
Velazco, D. Wunch, D. Belikov
Field of Research: data application
Name of Journal:		 Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics(Volume 13, pages 1771-1780, 2013)
Title: A joint ef fort to deliver satellite retrieved atmospheric CO 2
concentrations for surface flux inversions: the ensemble medianalgorithm EMMAAuthors:	M . Reuter, H. Bösch, H. Bovensmann, A. Bril, M. Buchwitz,A. Butz, J.P. Burrows, C.W. O'Dell, S. Guerlet, O. Hasekamp, J.
Heymann, N. Kikuchi, S. Oshchepkov, R. Parker, S. Pfeifer, O.
Schneising, T. Yokota, Y. Yoshida

4­­

NIES GOSAT PROJECT NEWSLETTER ISSUE#26 MAR. 2013

DATA PRODUCTS UPDATE

Data Processing Status Update from GOSAT Project Office
Fumie Kawazoe, Specialist, NIES GOSAT Project OfficeObservation Period and Versions of Publicly Released Data

As of February 15, 2013

FTS L1B data■● 050050 143,700 scenes● 080080 80,200 scenes● 100100 210,500 scenes● 110110 125,700 scenes● 128128 196,900 scenes● 130130 316,100 scenes● 141141 355,100 scenes● 150150 302,200 scenes● 150151 1,182,300 scenes■■

FTS L2 CO2 column amount  (SWIR)● 02.00● 02.10● 02.1185,000 scans
88,400 scans
151,800 scans● 02.00● 02.10● 02.11

85,100 scans
88,400 scans
151,900 scans● 00.01● 00.01

204,800 scans
206,400 scans● 01.10● 01.20● 01.30● 01.31● 01.40● 01.50

8 months
3 months
7 months
1 months
5 months
7 months● 01.00

642,800 frames● 01.00

564,800 frames● 01.00

612,400 frames■

FTS L2 CH4 column amount (SWIR)FTS L2 CO2 profile (TIR)FTS L2 CH4 profile (TIR)FTS L3 global CO2, CH4 distribution (SWIR)■■■CAI L1B data■
CAI L1B+ data■

CAI L2 cloud flag■■

CAI L3 global radiance distribution● 00.50● 00.80● 00.90● 00.91● 00.92

99 recurrences
36 recurrences
253 recurrences
144 recurrences
158 recurrences■

CAI L3 global reflectance distribution● 00.91● 00.92● 01.00■● 01.00■● 02.01● 02.01CAI L3 NDVI
L4A global CO2 flux
L4B global CO2 distribution

49 months
77 months
461 months
13,199 rectangles
1 year
1 year■2009/                                     2010/                                                    2011/                                                     2012/                                                  2013/4       6        8       10      12        2        4       6         8       10       12       2        4        6        8       10      12        2       4         6         8      10      12       2 ← Observ. period

The chart above is as of February 15, 2013. The latest processed

FTS L1B has been completed its reprocessing in V150.151 over theand released on are: FTS L1B in V150.151; CAI L1B/L1B+/L2 cloud flag

whole observation period, while CAI L1B+ is still under reprocessing/L3 global reflectance distribution/NDVI in V01.00; FTS L2 CO2/CH4in V01.00.

The number of registered users is 1389 as of Feb. 14, 2013.

column amount (SWIR) in V02.11.

NIES GOSAT PROJECT NEWSLETTERISSUE #26 MARCH 2013

Issued On : 2013/3/8

edited and published by : NIES GOSAT Project Oﬃce
You can download this newsletter here:
URL : http://www.gosat.nies.go.jp/eng/newsletter/top.htm

email : gosat_newsletter@nies.go.jp

いぶきIBUKINIES GOSAT PROJECT NEWSLETTER

website : http://www.gosat.nies.go.jp/eng/newsletter/top.htm

If you would like to receive an email notiﬁcation when each issue is published,address：16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba-City, Ibaraki,

please send us an email with your name, email address,

305-8506 Japanand preferred language (English or Japanese) at:

GOSAT Project Oﬃce

gosat_newsletter@nies.go.jp

Center for Global Environmental Research
National Institute for Environmental Studies

5­­

Reproduction in any form without publisher’s permission is prohibited.