## (5) Promoting routine observations in Antarctica

Geospatial Information Authority of Japan is conducting geodetic observation of the Antarctic regions, creating topographic maps, and developing digital elevation data. The achieved results contribute to smooth and safe activities of Antarctic research expeditions, and contribute to international activities related to the research of global environmental changes, geodetic survey, and acquiring geospatial information.

The Japan Meteorological Agency continues to conduct observations on the ozone, solar and infrared radiation, and surface and upper-air at Syowa Station (Antarctica). Gathered observation data contributes to monitoring and research on the global environment, such as the changes in Antarctic ozone hole and global climate, and is utilized for the formulation of international policies.

The Japan Coast Guard (JCG) is conducting bathymetric surveys. The bathymetric data is used for the nautical charts and also used as the basis for research related to past environmental conditions such as glacial erosion and sedimentary depositional. In addition, JCG conducts tidal observations that contribute to monitoring of the fluctuations in sea levels which have close relation with the global warming.

## Projection of future conditions of the global environment

## (1) Research concerning global warming

The Japan Meteorological Agency and the Meteorological Research Institute are developing prognostic models on changes in climate around Japan and the world, and actively participate in international research programs such as the World Climate Research Program (WCRP). The Meteorological Research Institute has been conducting projection studies on global warming and developing an Earth System Model, including those for the carbon cycle process, and strives to contribute to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 5th Assessment Report which is to be published between 2013 and 2014. In 2013, the Japan Meteorological Agency published “Global Warming Projection Vol. 8” which shows more detailed global warming projections over Japan compared to the past by using advanced global and regional climate models.

In order to gain understanding on the causality of climate change to hydrospheric disasters, the National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management conducts observations on the changes in the amount of water flowing in rivers.

## (2) Activities of the Tokyo Climate Center

In order to support operations for disseminating climate information around the Asia-Pacific region, the Japan Meteorological Agency is serving as a regional climate center for the World Meteorological Organization, and provides information and technical support for activities related to monitoring extreme weather conditions, long-range forecasts, and global warming projections to National Meteorological Services of various Asian nations.

## Promoting the Global Mapping Project and the world geodetic network

Japan takes a leading role in the Global Mapping Project, which has 182 participating nations and regions as of December 2012, by serving as the secretariat of the International Steering Committee for Global Mapping and developing the Global Map Version 2 (digital geospatial information on global terrain) in collaboration with the national geospatial information authorities of various nations, and promotes Global Map application in various fields such as monitoring and analysis of the global environment taking opportunities of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) and others. In addition, by participating in international observation of, VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometry is a type of ranging method using multiple radio telescopes) and SLR (Satellite Laser Ranging is a method for measuring the range between an artificial satellite with retro-reflectors and a ground station by laser pulse), conducting measurements of tidal level and absolute gravity, and contributing to IGS (International GNSS Services), Japan has been carrying out observations and researches of tectonic activities on global scale. Moreover, Japan conducts the “Environmental Monitoring of Japan,” which produces vegetation index related to the activity of plants by analyzing satellite data.