NIES GOSAT PROJECT NEWSLETTER ISSUE#16 APR. 2011

ISSUE #16
APR. 2011

CONTENTSNEWSGOSAT DHF Resumes Its Operation                                                                01INTERVIEW
Dr. Alexey Yaremchuk

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.

                

02Data Processing Update from GOSAT Project Office              

04QUIZ                                           05CALENDAR

05

ANNOUNCEMENTS

05

DATA PRODUCT UPDATE

http://www.gosat.nies.go.jp/
NEWS

GOSAT DHF Resumes Its Operation
Nobuyuki Kikuchi, Specialist, NIES GOSAT Project Office

On March 11, 2011, a 9.0-magnitude earthquake hit the Level 2 and Level 3, which include the column abundances

northeastern Japan (the Great East Japan Earthquake). The of CO2 and CH4. (2) Distributing the data products to the“IBUKI” satellite continued its nominal observation as there was researchers and general users. (3) Collating requests for targeted

no interruption to the control of the satellite, however, the NIES measurements sent from the qualified researchers, and
GOSAT Project office was closed for the following week due transferring the organized requests to JAXA. Other tasks include
to the electric power failure. On March 22, as the office was re- collaborative work with external agencies to supplement

opened, we started to work on the recovery of the GOSAT Data the functions at the GOSAT DHF: (4) Gathering reference

Handling Facility. We resumed the data distribution service on meteorological data. (5) Bridging the supercomputers at the
April 1, and data processing on April 6.

The GOSAT DHF is the central resource for processing of

NIES and other computing resources.

We are working to catch up on the three weeks of delay, and

the GOSAT data. Its main tasks include: (1) Processing the get back to the quasi-real-time processing.
observational data from JAXA into higher-level data products,

Registered Users

Researchers

Standard Data
Products

JAXA
Level 1
Data

Observation
Plan

GOSAT Data Handling Facility(NIES/GOSAT DHF)

Observation
Requests

Observation
Requests

Data

Higher-Level
Data Products

GOSAT
Computer System

Reference
Data

GOSAT Data Handling Facility (DHF) located in the main research building III at
the National Institute for Environmental Studies.

1­­

Reference Data Providers

Data
Transfer

Data Storage

Processed
data

Computing Facilities

Wrokflow of GOSAT data processing.

NIES GOSAT PROJECT NEWSLETTER ISSUE#16 APR. 2011

formulas there, but I was greatly impressed

for Earth sciences are located.

by the descriptions of black holes and
Schwarzschild horizons. After that, I wasgoing just more and more into this direction.
Yokota (YOK): Where were you born and

INTERVIEW

DR. ALEXEYYAREMCHUK
Dr. Alexey Yaremchuk is a mathematician
from Russia, who has also been an advisor
to the modeling group since the start of
the NIES GOSAT Project. The NIES GOSATPROJECT NEWSLETTER interviewed him
during his visit to the NIES. (Interviewer:
NIES GOSAT Projec t Leader Tatsuya
Yokota and Sub-leader Shamil Maksyutov.
Interviewed on January 28, 2011.)"my father got a book on Einstein's"my experience and knowledge arewhat I always rely on"

where did you go to school?

MAK: Can you tell us about your experience

YAR: I was born in a small city near Moscow

before working on carbon cycle and thein Russia. Last year of high school, I changedtransition from the theoretical physics into

to a specialized school in Moscow. There

the data assimilation?

were four special schools over the Soviet

YAR: OK. This happened in 1995. At that time

Unions founded by the mathematician

in Russia, strong theorists have already flown

Andrey Nikolaevich Kolmogorov for young

to the West. I was more or less just staying

people who liked mathematics, so that theyalone, and I was not so young, either. You

had opportunities to study somewhere inknow, the great moves in theory are done by

the center. So, I graduated from that school

young people somewhere at the age below

in Moscow, but actually I spent there only

thirty. Meanwhile, I have a brother who used

the last year.

to work in the field of data assimilation in

YOK: What did you study in the university?

the ocean sciences. He was in Germany, andYAR: I initially started in the department

he had some problems with computing.

for radio technique. We already had to take

The problems appeared to be solvable, so I

specialized classes in the second year, and it

went to Germany to help them. At that time,

was about technology, radars..., and I felt that

I did not expect it to be the turn in my life.

I should switch to studies that were more

Even when they asked me to stay there fortheoretical. I switched to general physics,

one and half years, I said, "Oh, I have otheralthough it was not so easy. So, I graduatedinterests," and left in half a year to Russia, butfrom the department of general physics.

eventually I returned back to Germany. It was

MAK: What was your research for master's

at the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar anddegree?

Marine Research in Bremerhaven, Germany.

YAR: I received my master's degree from

While I was there, I was lucky to go on an

the department of theoretical physics at theAntarctic expedition with the German people

Moscow Institute for Physics and Technology.

by Polarstern, it's their icebreaker which

At that time students there were normallythey use for research. This was great. They

doing solid-state physics, and elementary

had a problem with the instruments thatparticles were not recommended. I worked

they deployed in the Antarctic for making

in mathematical physics. My graduate thesis

underwater observations. These instruments

was on exact solutions to a chiral field model.

were acoustically controlled. However,

It was published in a well-appreciated journal

frequently it appeared that they could not

Nuclear Physics B. I deviated from chiral fields

establish a bidirectional communication

after this.

with them. The instruments were left under

MAK: Did you work on your Ph.D. in thea sea ice and lost forever. Since I was fromsame department?

the Acoustics Institute, they suggested me

Maksyutov (MAK): So Alexey, it is very nice

YAR: Yes. We could stay either in theto work on the problem. I had experience intheory and ..."
that you could come to Japan again. My

university or in one of research institutes

engineering work in the Acoustics Institute,

first question is how you got interested inbelonging to the Russian Academy of

so I made some recommendations. I could

science. Maybe it is related to your study in

Sciences. So, I worked on my PhD at the

not actually help them immediately, but

the high school or university?

Landau Institute for Theoretical Physics. My

they were able to send a report to France

Yaremchuk ( YAR): Definitely. In Russia,

doctoral thesis was on exact solutions of

where this acoustic positioning technique

we have ten years of education prior toclassical Heisenberg and Landau-Lifshitz

was developed. I cannot say it was because

university. In about the fifth year, we started

magnetic models. The classification that wasof me, but the system was totally changed

studying English. It was very interesting for

written on my diploma was theoretical andin several years. Then, the leader of theme, but grew less interesting in a couple

mathematical physics.

expedition wanted me to go with them onceof years, and I became more interested

YOK: Then, you started working in a researchmore, but this time I could not do it because

in physics instead. When I was in seventh

institute or university?

someone recommended me to a person ingrade or so, I remember my father got a

YAR: After graduation I was employed by N.

the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Sciencethin popular book on Einstein's theory of

N. Andreev Acoustics Institute. It is part ofand Technology (JAMSTEC). I came to Japangravitation. I had a look into it. I couldn't

the Russian Academy of Sciences, and is inin the fall of 2000. I thought that I shall stayunderstand anything because of thethe area of Moscow where many institutes

for one year at first, but stayed for five years.

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NIES GOSAT PROJECT NEWSLETTER ISSUE#16 APR. 2011

parallelization and real computing, I am just

MAK: So, what is the connection between

on applied mathematical grounds using

your work in data assimilation and yournumerical modeling. I think that this isrearranging the main ideas on how it shouldbackground in theoretical physics, andthe future, and there might not be a small

be done.

your problems like the carbon dioxide

comparison between satellites and in-situ

assimilation?

measurements.

MAK: We will release our estimate ofsurface CO2 fluxes as a product of GOSAT

YAR: My experience and knowledge arewhat I always rely on, and it helps somehow.

MAK: So how did it happen that you joined

Project from NIES particularly. What is yourEngineers have nice ideas, but sometimes

the GOSAT project? Was it by occasion or

expectation for the data products that wethey may not be very strong in mathematics

your interest in the global warming?

are delivering and can deliver in the future

and think that mathematics can help.

YAR: Of course, it was by occasion, becausewith the GOSAT satellite?

The point is that problems are of two types:

we met in JAMSTEC. Although, I was on

YAR: I am a technical processing person, andthose that can be solved and those thatthe forth floor there, working in the global

the product itself may be more significant forcannot. When I was at the Landau Instituteclimate change group, my interest wasthose who are working in ecological fields.

for Theoretical Physics, Alexei A. Abrikosov*1,

only in mathematics or physics of data

With that said, I think it is highly valuable,

who received a Nobel Prize in 2003, wasassimilation itself. Actually, I am concerned

judging that no such product exists now.

there. He said that when you work on aabout climate change only when I look out

Concerning the quality, from some point ofproblem, and if you feel no move, then stopin the window and we have rain in winterview, our contribution might not be seen as

and change to another because the life isinstead of snow. It makes me unhappy.

highly precise, but from my personal point

short. With the data assimilation, it appeared

YOK: What is your position with the NIESof view, it will be one of the most advanced

to me that the theory is not well developed

GOSAT Project modeling group?

systems all over the world even though it is
not heavily advertised in such a way.

and something could be done. Research in

YAR: When I came to work with Shamil's

carbon dioxide cycle is also related to thegroup, they already had a transport model.   YOK: We have been struggling with the

problem of data assimilation. If we only talkMy work is mainly related to data assimilationnoises and errors in retrieving concentrations,about assimilation itself and not physics

itself, and a transport model is necessary

and CO2 surface fluxes also contain someand development of transport models, one

for this. First of all, I was involved into

estimation errors. Our duty is to minimize

should start from carbon dioxide, because it

development of the so-called adjoint model.

these errors. Do you think the theoreticalis much more linear than the ocean. I am not

It is a technical tool that is necessary fordiscussion or a theoretical, mathematical,

a guy who develops life. The life takes medata assimilation. Last year, I already started

or physical treatment of the estimation

here and there. So, I do not know what to say

assembling the system itself. It relies bothmethods is important?

more.

on the original direct model and the adjoint

YAR: I think so. I'm only involved in themodel on more or less equal grounds. Now

reconstruction of the surface emissions

we are applying it to process data collected

and sinks, the L4 stage. Whereas the task

by point measurements. Last year, we mademore related to retrieving the column

an initial run using GOSAT data.  But this wasamounts is the L2 stage. I have talked toobservation instruments based onsatellites are the future but moreinvestigation into their potential
is neededa development stage, and our computersome members of the project about physics

MAK: What do you think about the satellite

program was not very well parallelized.

of what is happening at the L2 stage forobservation of GOSAT from the point of

We did not run it on super computers, themaybe one year. Up to now, the field is stillview of a data assimilation specialist? What

present task is just to ensure that everything

nontransparent to me, but I think that maybe

is the difference between the fixed-point

is correct and there are no programming

sometime I shall also try to contribute toobservation of a small network done before

errors. And now, at least we feel so, that it

their methods because as in data assimilation

GOSAT, and the GOSAT observation with ais time to apply it to a huge amount of data

in atmospheric transport, I feel something

global coverage maybe less accurate but

provided by GOSAT to see what happens. It

can also be done in this field. I think that

more frequent?

is better than to make hand waving and say

situation is similar to development the steam

YAR: In my opinion, the remote observationsome theoretical or near theoretical words.

engines, which were started at the timesof James Watt before creation of accurate

instruments based on satellites are thefuture, and we should mainly work only in

YOK: I think you are mathematical ortheory. The engines were widely used andthis direction. Even when all the existing

theoretical based researcher, but you arehighly productive already, but later, when

fixed observation points are combined,

using computer systems.

the theory appeared, a great improvement inthey appear to be too sparse to cover the

YAR: All these programs that I use are

efficiency was possible. So with GOSAT I feel

whole planet. Also, I feel that potential

programmed by me. Before going tothat there also might be such a jump.

of the satellite-borne instruments is not

Germany I never programmed. I only used

investigated precisely. So far we only

computers for typing mathematical texts. In

have speculations. We should do it more

my opinion, my programming style is much

*1 Alexei A. Abrikosov (born 1928) is a Russion
theoretical Physicist. He was awarded the Nobel
Prize in Physics in 2003 "for pioneering contribution
to the theory of superconductors and superfluids."

more advanced than the styles of others
who studied programming 20 years ago
when there was no modern language of
Fortran. Of course, I am not a professional in

3­­

NIES GOSAT PROJECT NEWSLETTER ISSUE#16 APR. 2011

DATA PRODUCT UPDATE

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

As of April 18, 2011
Versions and Approx.
Numbersof Released Data

FTS L1BFTS L2 CO2 column amount (SWIR)FTS L2 CH4 column amount (SWIR)FTS L3 CO2 distribution (SWIR)FTS L3 CH4 distribution (SWIR)(#(%●050050●080080●100100●110110143700 scenes
80200 scenes
210500 scenes
109700 scenes● 00.50● 00.80"#)%● 00.9032500 scans
16700 scans
38600 scans● 01.10● 01.20● 01.30● 01.40

26000 scans
14800 scans
46900 scans
20800 scans●00.50●00.80●00.90"#$%35200 scans
23700 scans
43300 scans●01.10●01.20●01.30"#&%●01.4024300 scans
13400 scans
44200 scans
20400 scans●01.10●01.20●01.30●01.31"#'%●01.408 months
3 months
7 months
1 month
3 months●01.10●01.20●01.30●01.31"#(%●01.408 months
3 months
7 months
1 month
3 months●00.50●00.80●00.90●00.91117200 frames
16300 frames
114000 frames
58000 frames●00.50●00.80●00.90●00.9144800 frames
16300 frames
114000 frames
55700 frames

CAI L1B!"#(%

CAI L1B+

CAI L2 cloud ﬂag!"#'%

CAI L3 global radiance●00.10●00.80●00.90●00.91117200 frames
16300 frames
114000 frames
58000 frames!"#&%●00.50●00.80●00.90●00.9199 recurrences
36 recurrences
253 recurrences
103 recurrences!"#$%

April-09

June-09

August-09

October-09 December-09 February-10

April-10June-10

August-10

October-10 December-10 February-11

April-11

June-11Month and Year of Observation

We have restarted the operation of GOSAT data

global radiance distribution products, and V01.40 of the FTS

processing on April 6, 2011, after it was down due to the

L2 CO2 and CH4 column amount (SWIR) data products, andGreat East Japan Earthquake. The data processing of some

FTS L3 global CO2 and CH4 distribution (SWIR). We released

products is still delayed, but here we report an update on

the V01.40 of the FTS L2 CO2 and CH4 column amount (SWIR)

data processing status for late March 2011 and early April

data products and FTS L3 global CO2 and CH4 distribution

2011.

(SWIR) data products for the month of February 2011.
The number of registered users is 1028 as of April 18,

Continued from last month, we are processing and2011.

releasing the V110110 of the FTS L1B data products, V00.91
of the CAI L1B, L1B+, L2 cloud flag data products, and the L3
4­­

NIES GOSAT PROJECT NEWSLETTER ISSUE#16 APR. 2011

IBUKI QUIZ??????????

Q2

What is one of the things that were made possible by "IBUKI"?

Q1
What is the duty of NIES GOSAT

1) measurement of amount of CO2

Project "modeling group"?

breathed out by penguins in the Antarctic

3

satellite2) continuous measurment of greenhouse1) estimates the balance of CO2

gas concentrations at one observation

emission and absorption near the

point on the earth from the groundearth surface using computers3) frequent and regular measurement2) builds miniatures of satelliteof greenhouse gas concentrations thatand sensors

covers the whole globe including the3) walks the runway and strikes aareas where there is no ground-basedpose

observation point.

2
Earth

1

The answers can be easily found in this issue. Please send us an email with your answers along with name, title, and comments on the
newsletter at gosat_newsletter@nies.go.jp (due: May 22, 2011). We will give the right answers to those who send us emails!

PUBLISHED PAPERSCALENDAR

Field of Research : data processing algorithm

Name of Journal : Atmospheric Measurement Techniques(Volume 4, Number 4, pages 717-734)

Title : Retrieval algorithm for CO2 and CH4 column abundancesfrom short-wavelength infrared spectral observations
by the Greenhouse gases observing satellite.

Authors : Y. Yoshida, Y. Ota, N. Eguchi, N. Kikuchi, K. Nobuta, H. Tran, I. Morino,
and T. Yokota

Field of Research : calibration

Name of Journal : IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing(Volume 49, Number 5, pages 1781-1795)

Title : Vicarious Calibration of the GOSAT Sensors Using the Railroad Valley Desert Playa

Authors: A. Kuze, D. M. O’Brien, T. E. Taylor, J. O. Day, C. W. O’Dell, F. Kataoka,

M. Yoshida, Y. Mitomi, C. J. Bruegge, H. Pollock, R. Basilio, M. Helmlinger,
T. Matsunaga, S. Kawakami, K. Shiomi, T. Urabe, and H. Suto

ANNOUNCEMENTNIES GOSAT PROJECT NEWSLETTER welcomes letters from our readers.
We appreciate your opinions,"I want to read articles on ...," "... was really interesting." etc.
We also appreciate opinions or contributions from people involved in the GOSAT Project.
Please feel free to contact : gosat_newsletter@nies.go.jp.
Thank you for supporting the newsletter.

2011/05/16-18
Participating in the 7th International Workshop
on Greenhouse Gas Measurements from Space(IWGGMS-7) held at the University of Edinburgh,
Scotland, UK.
2011/05/18-21
Participating in the 2011 Spring Meeting of the
Meteorological Society of Japan held at the National
Olympics Memorial Youth Center in Tokyo, Japan.
2011/05/19-20
Hosting the 3rd GOSAT Research Announcement
Principal Investigator Meeting (GOSAT R A PI
Meeting) at the John McIntyre Conference Centre,
Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
2011/05/22-27
Par ticipating in the Japan Geoscience Union(JpGU) Meeting 2011 held at the Makuhari Messe
International Conference Hall in Chiba, Japan.
2011/05/23-27
Participating in the Network for the Detection of
Atmospheric Composition Change Infrared Working
Group (NDACC IRWG) / the Total Carbon Column
Observation Network (TCCON) Meeting held in
Boulder, Colorado, USA.
2011/05/26-27
Participating in the 50th Spring Conference of theRemote Sensing Society of Japan held at the Century
Anniversary Hall of Nihon University, Tokyo, Japan.

- Yuki Tanaka, editor

NIES GOSAT PROJECT NEWSLETTERISSUE #16 APR. 2011

Issued On : 2011.04.28

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 : gosat̲newsletter@nies.go.jp

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IBUKI

NIES GOSAT PROJECT NEWSLETTER

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

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5­­

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