OBJECTIVES

"Global Change Observation Mission (GCOM)" is an international plan of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). GCOM seeks to establish and demonstrate a global, long-term satellite observing system to measure essential geophysical parameters for understanding the global climate change and water cycle mechanism, and eventually contribute to improving future climate projection through a collaborative framework with climate model institutions.

To achieve global, comprehensive, long-term, and homogeneous observation, GCOM will consist of two satellite types and three consecutive generations with a one-year overlap, resulting in over a 13-year observation period. The two satellites are GCOM-W and GCOM-C (Climate). The GCOM-W1 satellite will carry the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer-2 (AMSR2) to contribute to understanding the water and energy cycle. The GCOM-C1 satellite will be equipped with the Second-generation Global Imager (SGLI) to observe the Earth’s atmosphere and surface for contributing to the understanding of the carbon cycle and radiation budget.

At this symposium, JAXA and the organizations concerned report a background, a purpose, and a role of the GCOM plan, and the present status of the climate change research by the satellite observation. JAXA holds this symposium so that participants can understand the GCOM plan and the global environment issues.

 

PROGRAM

January 13, 2009

<Morning Session> Chair: Toru Fukuda, Director, JAXA Earth Observation Research Center
10:00-10:05	Opening remarks Yasushi Horikawa, Executive Director, JAXA
10:05-10:30	Global Earth Observing System of Systems (GEOSS) and satellite observations Toshio Koike, President, Earth Observation Data Integration and Fusion Research Initiative, The University of Tokyo
10:30-10:50	Overview of the Global Change Observation Mission Keizo Nakagawa, GCOM Project Manager, JAXA
10:50-11:15	Further improvements of global warming projections and saltellite observations Tatsushi Tokioka, Director-General, Frontier Research Center for Global Change, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
11:15-11:40	The role of GCOM in carbon budget monitoring Yoshifumi Yasuoka, Executive Director, National Institute for Environmental Studies
11:40-12:05	Operational application of GCOM data at JMA Kozo Okamoto, Forecaster, Numerical Prediction Division, Forecast Department, Japan Meteorological Agency
12:05-12:30	Perspective of GCOM contribution to society Haruhisa Shimoda, Director, Tokai University Space Information Center
12:30-13:30	Lunch break
<Afternoon Session> Chair: Tamotsu Igarashi, JAXA Earth Observation Research Center
13:30-13:50	Science plan for GCOM-W1 Taikan Oki, Professor, Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo
13:50-14:10	Scientific significance of GCOM-C1 Yoshiaki Honda, Associate Professor, Center for Environmental Remote Sensing, Chiba University
14:10-14:30	Promotion of inter-satellite synergy: GCOM / GPM / EarthCare Teruyuki Nakajima, Director, Center for Climate System Research, The University of Tokyo
14:30-14:50	GCOM Mission and Challenges for Applications Research Tamotsu Igarashi, Senior Researcher, JAXA
14:50-14:55	Closing remarks Masanori Homma, Associate Executive Director, JAXA

Symposium secretariat
Prime International Co., Ltd.
TEL：03-6277-0117、FAX：03-6277-0118
E-MAIL:gcom_sympo@prime-intl.co.jp