(1) Hydrospheric Atmospheric Research Center, Nagoya Univ.
Future Satellite Observation of Precipitation
Nakamura Kenji
Hydrospheric Atmospheric Research Center,
Nagoya University
nakamura@ihas.nagoya-u.ac.jp
Water cycle is one of the major components of the Earth environment@system. Recent global change issue emphasized the importance of the@water cycle studies. As many global models suggested, the precipitation distribution will change as the global warming progresses.
Clouds and precipitation are observed by visible/infrared and microwave radiometers from space. Recently a spaceborne radar has been available since December 1997. The radar is onboard a satellite "Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM)" satellite. Contrary to radiometers, the radar directly detects rain regardless over land and ocean. Thanks to its range resolution capability, the radar gives us three dimensional rain structure. The TRMM satellite has a non sunsychronous orbit, which makes possible to observe diurnal variation of rain. However, TRMM is limited to plus or minus 38 degrees latitudes. TRMM follow-on precipitation observation mission plan, called ATMOS-A1 is under discussion. ATMOS-A1 which is now supposed to be an essential part of Global Precipitation Mission (GPM) which NASA proposed. The main objective of ATMOS-A1 is to observe preciptation structure including liquid and solid particles over nearly whole globe. The main objective of GPM which consists of a core satellite and many drone microwave radiometer satellites is to provide 3-hourly rain distribution over the globe which must improve global analysis data, which contributes much on the climate study. GPM will also improve short-term forecast.The expected launch is in 2007.
Submittal Information
Name :
Date :
Nakamura Kenji
29-May-01-17:47:21
Organization :
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Hydrospheric Atmospheric Research Center, Nagoya University
