In addition, in order to improve the accuracy of seasonal weather forecasting and monitoring of climate change, JMA produced the Japanese 55-year reanalysis (JRA-55), a historical global atmospheric data with homogeneity in space and time.

Moreover, “Climate Change Monitoring Reports” and “Report on Climate Change and Extreme Weather” (in Japanese) are compiled based on results from observation, and future projection of climate changes, extreme weather events and global warming is disclosed to the public. Serving as the World Data Center for Greenhouse Gases (WDCGG) of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), JMA also archives and provides observation data on greenhouse gases around the world.

## (2) Observing and monitoring extreme weather events

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) monitors extreme weather that occurs in Japan and many parts of the world to compile and then report on a regular basis their observations regarding areas with extreme high and low temperatures or rainfall as well as weather disasters. Also, when extreme weather conditions are occurring that significantly affect the public, progressive reports are given summarizing the information regarding features, factors and the outlook.

Furthermore, as a Regional Climate Center of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), JMA provides information such as monitoring and analysis of extreme weather as well as technical assistance through training and dispatch of experts to National Meteorological and Hydrological Services in Asian countries to support the climate services in the Asia-Pacific region.

## (3) Initiatives aimed to improve next generation geostationary meteorological satellite

The manufacture of the next geostationary meteorological satellites Himawari-8/9 was started in 2009 and the launch plans are for Himawari-8 in 2014 and Himawari-9 in 2016. In addition to the improvement of disaster mitigation function against such weather as typhoons and torrential rain, these satellites lead the world in their powerful monitoring functions for the global environment such as global warming.

## (4) Observing and monitoring the ocean

The ocean is greatly impacting the earth’s climate by storing a much larger amount of heat than the atmosphere, and it is also easing the progression of global warming by absorbing $ CO_{2} $ discharged by human economic activity. In order to monitor global warming, an accurate grasp of oceanic conditions is essential.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), under the international cooperative structure, monitors oceanic conditions by carrying out ocean observation with high accuracy from research vessels in the western North Pacific Ocean along with using data from satellites and Argo floats, or profiling floats to automatically observe the ocean interior.

The JMA website “Marine Diagnosis Report” provides information on the present status of the ocean such as ocean temperatures, ocean currents, sea level, sea ice, as well as the prospect for the future.

In order to supplement data obtained from Argo floats, the Japan Coast Guard constantly monitors fluctuations in the Kuroshio Current in waters surrounding the Izu Islands, using high-frequency radar, and publishes the observation data. In addition, the Japan Oceanographic Data Center collects and manages data obtained by Japanese marine research organizations, and discloses it to relevant institutions and to the public.