1Outline of AMSR Mission↴⁋↍⁎⇄⅚‫ٽ‬ါড়നȁઆֳಐ࣎ߗࡄ‫ٳݪ‬อ‫ࢹܥ‬
Akira Shibata
Japan Aerospace
Exploration Agency

1.1 ζͼ·υ෨༶ৣࠗͥ͢ͅ௶೰

Measurement by Microwave Radiometers
Rotating DirectionࠈఝഩდȪCellular PhoneȫഩঊτϋΐȪMicrowave Ovenȫ‫ܨ‬યτȜΘȜȪMeteorological Radarȫ‫ିמ‬༶௣ȪSatellite Broadcastingȫ

Radiation
Radiationfrom Sea Ice from Land

Radiationfrom Ocean

Radiationfrom Atmosphere٬ຕ̥͈ͣ༶ৣ٬̥͈ͣ
༶ৣఱ‫͈̥ͣܨ‬
༶ৣ

ၘ̥͈ͣ
༶ৣ

Incidence
Angle
වৣ‫ڙ‬

136

10203040 50

100 [GHz]

Incidence
Angle
වৣ‫ڙ‬

AMSR͈ਔ෨ତȪAMSR Frequencyȫ଎ġġġ1.1.1 ૸߃ͅঀ̞ͩͦ̀ͥζͼ·υ෨͂ȂAMSŔঀ̞ͩͦ̀ͥਔ෨ତ
Fig. 1.1.1 Microwaves in familiar applications, and AMSR frequencies‫ିמ‬൏शζͼ·υ෨༶ৣ͉ࠗ౷‫͈ݩ‬༶ৣ̳ͥ๷৻̈́ζͼ·υ෨̞̩̥͈ͬ̾̾ਔ෨ତ́௶೰̳ͥ਋൲߿Γϋ΍Ȝ̳́ȃζͼ·υ෨͉૸߃ͅࠈఝഩდȆഩঊτϋΐȆ‫ܨ‬યτȜΘȜȆ‫ିמ‬༶௣̈́̓ͅ‫̞̀̀ͦͩঀ̞̀؃‬Ȃ୆‫͈࢜ڰ‬ષ࣓ͅࡃ̱̞̳̀͘ȃζͼ·υ෨༶ৣࠗͅঀ̞ͩͦ̀ͥਔ෨ତ͜Ȃ̭ͦͣ‫̳͈̞́͜߃͈̞ͥ̀ͦͩ͜ͅঀͅܕܥ‬ȃζͼ·υ෨͉ুட͜ͅ౷‫͈ݩ‬ఱ‫ܨ‬ȆၘȆ٬̥̈́̓ͣ༶ৣ̯̞̳ͦ̀͘ȃ༶ৣၾ͉ਔ෨ତ̽̀͢ͅ։̤̈́̽̀ͤȂ̞̩̥͈̾ਔ෨ତ͈ΟȜΗͬழ̵͙ࣣ̭ͩͥ͂ͤ͢ͅȂ৽ͅକͅ‫̳ͥ۾‬੨໤ၑၾͬಒ੄̧̳̭̦̳ͥ͂́͘ȃζͼ·υ෨༶ৣ̥ࠗͣಒ੄̧́ͥయນഎ̈́໤ၑၾ̱͂̀Ȃఱ‫ܨ‬ͅ‫͉̱̀۾‬ୟॳକ૊‫ܨ‬ၾȆୟॳ‫׌‬କၾȆࣛକၾȂၘ֖ͅ‫͉̱̀۾‬ୟୱ૬Ȇാિକ໦ၾȂຕ֖ͅ‫͉̱̀۾‬٬ຕ໦ືȂ٬֖ͅ‫͉̱̀۾‬٬࿂କ‫أ‬Ȇ٬ષ໓௸̦̈́̓‫̳̬ͦͣ͘ݷ‬ȃ଎ġġġ1.1.2 ζͼ·υ෨༶ৣ͈ࠗ۷௶‫ٽ‬۷
Fig. 1.1.2 Overview of observation by passive microwave radiometer

The Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR) mounted on satellites is a passive sensor
that measures weak microwaves radiated from the Earth at several frequencies. Microwaves
contribute to improving our lives through their use in familiar applications, such as cellular phones,
microwave oven, meteorological radar, and satellite broadcasts. Furthermore, the frequencies usedin AMSR are close to those used in these devices. Microwaves are radiated naturally from the Earth’s
atmosphere, land, and seas. The amount of energy radiated varies depending on the frequency, so
physical quantities of water can be extracted by combining data at several frequencies. Typicalphysical quantities that can be extracted from the AMSR are cumulative water vapor content,cumulative cloud and water volume, rainfall for the atmosphere, snow depth and soil moisture volumefor land areas, sea-ice distribution for iced areas, sea surface temperature, and wind speed on thesea.

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1.2 ඾ུ̤̫ͥͅ‫ିמ‬൏शζͼ·υ෨༶ৣࠗ‫ٳ‬อDevelopment of Spaceborne Microwave Radiometers in Japan଎ġġġ1.2.1ȁAMSR-E͈‫ٸ‬۷ͺϋΞ΢͈ࠂ͉1.6ḿȂྀ໦ 40ٝഢ̳ͥȃAMSR͈ࠂ͉2.0mȃ

଎ġġġ1.2.2ȁAMSR-E ͬ൏श̱̹Aqua‫ିמ‬
TRW২̤̞̀ͅȂडਞത࠿ಎȃ

Fig. 1.2.1ȁPhotograph of AMSR-E
A radius of AMSR-E antenna is 1.6m, and it rotates with 40rpm. AMSR antenna is 2m.

Fig. 1.2.2ȁAMSR-E is attached on Aqua' s head.
Final check of NASA' s Aqua satellite, at TRW.

ֳಐ࣎ߗࡄ‫ٳݪ‬อ‫ࢹܥ‬ȪJAXAȫ͉́1970ාయ̥ͣζͼ·υ෨༶ৣ͈ࠗࡄ‫ٳݪ‬อ࣐̞̳ͬ̽̀͘ȃड੝͈‫ିמ‬൏शΓϋ΍Ȝ͉Ȃ٬ဢ۷௶‫ିמ‬Ȫ఑ષ̬1987ාȫͅ൏श̯̹ͦ
Microwave Scanning RadiometerȪMSRȫ̳́ȃ඾ུັ߃͈ΟȜΗͬ৾ං̱ȂΓϋ΍Ȝ͈‫ܥ‬ෝͬ‫̹̱̱͘෇ږ‬ȃ̧֨௽̧Ȃࣞ଻ෝζͼ·υ෨༶ৣࠗȪAdvanced MSR; AMSRȫͬ‫ٳ‬อ̱Ȃ2͈̾AMSR̵଼̯̱̹ͬۖ͘ȃ1͉̾NASA͈‫ିמ‬AquaȪ఑ષ̬2002ා5࠮ȫͅ൏श̯
̹ͦAMSR-EȂ̠͜1͉̾JAXA͈‫ିמ‬ADEOS-㸈Ȫ఑ષ̬2002ා12࠮ȫͅ൏श̯̹ͦAMSR
̳́ȃৢ૯͉AMSR-E͈‫ٸ‬۷͂ȂAqua͈‫ିמ‬ΨΑ͈দࡑ࡛ાͬৢ̱̹͈̳́͜ȃॼැ̦̈́ͣȂADEOS-㸈൏शAMSR͉Ȃ2003ා10࠮ఊုഩ౻ΩΥσ͂‫ུିמ‬ఘͬࠫ͐ΉȜήσ͈ະߓࣣ́ADEOS-㸈̦೪গ̱̹षȂগ̱̹ͤ͘͘ȃ̱̥̱ȂAqua൏शAMSR-E͉ਜ਼
಺ͅ۷௶ͬ௽̫̤̀ͤȂࣽࢃ͈ΟȜΗ͜‫ܢ‬ఞ̯̳ͦ͘ȃThe Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has conducted research and development ofmicrowave scanning radiometers since the 1970s. The first satellite-mounted sensor was theMicrowave Scanning Radiometer (MSR), which was installed on the Marine Observation Satellite
launched in 1987. The functions of the sensor were confirmed by obtaining data from around Japan.
In succession, high-performance microwave scanning radiometers (Advanced MSR; AMSR) weredeveloped and two AMSRs completed. One is AMSR-E, which was installed on Aqua, a NASAsatellite launched in May 2002, and the other is AMSR, which was installed on ADEOS-Τ, a JAXA
satellite launched in December 2002. Photographs in Fig. 1.2.1 and Fig. 1.2.2 depict AMSR-E andthe satellite bus testing site for Aqua.
Unfortunately, AMSR shut down in October 2003 when ADEOS-Τ stopped operation due to a
failure in the cable connecting the solar panel to the satellite body. However, AMSR-E on Aqua
continues observation and future data are expected.

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1.3 ADEOS -㸈͂ġEOS Aqua ͈఑ષ̬Launches of ADEOS -㸈 and EOS Aqua଎ġġġ1.3.1ȁADEOS-㸈ͬ൏श̱̹H-㸈A4࣢‫͈ܥ‬఑ષ̬ਅঊോֳಐΓϋΗȜȂ2002ා12࠮14඾଎ġġġ1.3.2ȁAqua ͬ൏श̱̹ΟσΗ㸈υΉΛΠ͈఑ષ̬ତশ‫ۼ‬ஜΨϋΟϋΨȜ·ༀߗ߳‫ܖ‬౷Ȃ2002ා5࠮4඾

Fig. 1.3.1ȁThe launch of ADEOS-㸈 installed on H-㸈A F4
at Tanegashima Space Center on Dec. 14, 2002

Fig. 1.3.2ȁAqua installed on DELTA 㸈 several hours before launch
at Vandenberg Air Force Base on May 4, 200207

1.4 AMSR-E ΟȜΗੜၑ࡛͂ު၌ဥAMSR-E Data Processing and Operational UsesȆ౷‫ݩ‬۷௶၌ဥଔૺΓϋΗȜȪEORCȫ
Ȇༀ࣭࣎ߗֳಐޫȪNASAȫ
Ȇ‫ܨ‬ય಩ȪJMAȫȆ‫ૂުݽ‬༭΍ȜΫΑΓϋΗȜȪJAFICȫȆࡄ‫ݪ‬৪ȪResearchersȫ
Ȇ๊֚ξȜΎȜȪUsersȫ
©NASAAqua / AMSR-Eༀ࣭࣎ߗֳಐޫȁΑΨσΨȜΡ਋૞ޫ౷‫ݩ‬۷௶ΓϋΗȜȁี५

NASA Svalbard Satellite Station

EOC Hatoyama଎ġġġ1.4.1ȁ۷௶ΟȜΗ͈ၠͦ
Fig. 1.4.1ȁFlow of observed data‫ିמ‬൏शAMSR-É۷௶̯̹ͦΟȜΗ͉٬‫̜ͥ̓̈́ͅٸ‬਋૞ঔ୭́਋̫Ȃี५͈౷‫ݩ‬۷௶ΓϋΗȜȪEOCȫͅ௣̳ͣͦ͘ȃEOĆ͉‫ڎ‬ਅ͈ΟȜΗੜၑ̦̯ͦȂξȜΎȜͅ෻ື̯̳ͦ͘ȃ஠‫͈ݩ‬ΟȜΗ̦Ȃ۷௶ࢃ໹޳4শ‫ۼ‬ոඤͅξȜΎȜ͈ࡓͅ΂ϋρͼΰ෻ື̯̳ͦ͘ȃ෻ື୶̱͉͂̀౷‫ݩ‬۷௶၌ဥࡄ‫ݪ‬ΓϋΗȜȪEORCȫȂNASAȂ‫ܨ‬ય಩Ȃ‫ૂުݽ‬༭΍ȜΫΑΓϋΗȜ̳́ȃ̷͈ఈͅȂ‫ވ‬൳ࡄ‫ݪࡄ̞࣐ͥ̀̽ͬݪ‬৪̈́̓͜ͅ෻ື̯̳ͦ͘ȃ‫ܨ‬ય಩͉́କ૊‫ܨ‬ၾȆࣛକၾͬତ౵ഛ‫ܨ‬ထ༭͈੝‫ܢ‬౵̱͂̀ঀ̞̳̽̀͘ȃAMSR-EΟȜΗͬঀ̠̭͂ͤ͢ͅȂထ༭ୈഽ͈࢜ષ̦ࡉ̳ͣͦ͘ȃ‫ૂުݽ‬༭΍ȜΫΑΓϋΗȜ͉́କ‫أ‬ͬ‫ޙݽ‬ٜଢ଼ͅঀ̤̽̀ͤȂै଼̱̹‫ݽ‬٬‫ૂޙ‬༭଎ͬ‫̓̈́ͅފݽ‬෻ື̱̞̳̀͘ȃ٬ષ༗հ
಩͉AMSR-E٬ຕ໦ື଎ͬ஑ต͈հ஠࣐͈࣎४ࣉͅঀ̞̳̽̀͘ȃ

Data observed by AMSR-E are received by facilities located overseas and then sent to the EarthObservation Center (EOC) located in Hatoyama. EOC processes the data and distributes them tousers. Worldwide data are distributed online to users within an average of four hours afterobservation. Distributions are made to the Earth Observation Research and application Center(EORC), NASA, Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and Japan Fisheries Information ServiceCenter (JAFIC). In addition, data are also distributed to those researchers with whom we are
performing collaborative research.
The JMA uses water vapor content, rainfall data as initial values for numerical weather forecasts.
Using AMSR-E data can improve forecast accuracy. The JAFIC uses sea surface temperature datafor analysis of fishing conditions and distributes fishing and marine condition diagrams that areprepared using this data to fishermen's cooperative associations. The Japan Coast Guard uses
AMSR-E sea-ice distribution diagrams as references for ensuring safe voyages for ships.

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1.5 ‫࢓ܨ‬་൲͈ࡄ‫̫̀࢜ͅݪ‬Toward Climate Change Research Studies଎ġġġ1.5.1ȁAMSR PI ͂ࡄ‫֥ݪ‬
Fig. 1.5.1ȁAMSR PI and research scientists଎ġġġ1.5.2ȁPIίυΈρθ൲ै‫෇ږ‬
Fig. 1.5.2ȁCheck of PI's program଎ġġġ1.5.3ȁ΂γȜΜ·٬̤̫ͥͅ٬ຕ۷௶Ȫ‫ފ‬ႁȇల֚‫ߊۯ‬٬ષ༗հུ໐Ȃ੘ণ஑ȶ̷̠͞ȷȫ
Fig. 1.5.3ȁSea ice measurement in the Sea of OkhotskȪcooperation : 1st Regional Coast Guard Headquaters,patrol vesselȨSOYAȩȫ‫̥ͣିמ‬௣̧̹ͣͦ̀ΟȜΗ͉Ȃ໤ၑၾ་۟ͺσΌςΒθ̱ͬٚ̀Ȃ໤ၑၾͅ་̱̳۟͘ȃͺσΌςΒθ‫ٳ‬อ͉࣭ඤ‫͈ٸ‬਱ତྴ͈AMSR PIȪPrincipal Investigatorȫ࣐̞̳̽̀ͩͦ̀͘͢ͅȃͺσΌςΒθ͈௙ࣣഎ̈́൲ै‫͉෇ږ‬EORC͈౜൚৪࣐̞̳̽̀ͩͦ̀͘͢ͅȃ‫ିמ‬ΟȜΗ̥ͣॳ੄̯̹ͦ໤ၑၾ͉Ȃ౷ષΟȜΗ͂๤‫̭̳ͤ͂ͥ͢ͅڛ‬ୈഽ͈࠿બ࣐̞̳ͬ͘ȃୟୱၾȆാિକ໦ၾȆୟॳ‫׌‬କၾȆࣛକၾȆ٬ຕ̞͉̈́̓̾̀ͅඅ༆ͅ౷ષ۷௶࣐̞̳̽̀͘͜ȃAqua൏शAMSR-E͉2005ා5࠮́Ȃ‫܃‬3ා͈Ⴒ௽‫׋‬ဥ̱̹̈́ͤ͘ͅȃ‫࢓ܨ‬་൲͈শ‫ۼ‬ΑΉȜσ͉਱ତා̥ͣତ਱ාͅ‫̜͈ͤ́͐͜ݞ‬Ȃ̭͈3ා͉‫࢓ܨ‬་൲ͬ۬ণ̳͉ͥͅౣ̞͈̳́͜ȃ̱̥̱Ȃड߃Ȃ‫أ‬౰‫࡛͈ا‬ય̦‫͈̞̯͂ͥ̀ͦا௸ح‬ঐഊ̜ͤ͜Ȃ̭̭5ȡ10ා́஠‫ݩ‬എͅ‫أ‬౰‫࡛͈ا‬ય̦࡛̩ͦ̀ͥ‫خ‬ෝ଻̦̜̳ͤ͘ȃAMSR-E̤͍͢੿ြْ̦ࠗ࠿൦̯̞ͦ̀ͥAMSRࢃࠑ‫̀̽͢ͅܥ‬Ȃ̭͈࡛ͦͣયͬ۬ণ̱̩̭͉̀͂͠ఱ୨̭̈́͂͂ࣉ̢̞̳̀͘ȃ

Data sent from the satellite are converted into physical quantities via algorithms. These algorithms
are developed by ten or so domestic and overseas AMSR Principal Investigators (PIs). Acomprehensive check of algorithm function is performed by EORC personnel. The accuracy of thephysical quantities calculated from satellite data is verified by comparing them with ground truth data.
Snowfall, soil moisture volume, cumulative cloud and water volume, rainfall and sea ice, are speciallyobserved on the ground as well.
AMSR-E aboard Aqua operated continuously for three years until May 2005. The time scale forclimatic changes is typically 10 to 30 years, so this three-year period is too short for monitoringclimatic changes. However, considering the recent acceleration of the warming phenomenon, it isprobable that the warming phenomenon will appear across the globe in the next 5 to 10 years.
Therefore, it is important to monitor these phenomena with AMSR-E as well as the successor ofAMSR, for which future plans are currently being developed.

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