ADEOS SCIENCE PROGRAM

Haruhisa Shimoda
ADEOS Program Scientist
Earth Observation Research and application Center, Japan Space Exploration Agency


There are eight sensors on board ADEOS, provided by five agencies from three countries. The scientific objective of ADEOS is to contribute to the understanding of the global environment, especially global warming and stratospheric ozone depletion. Each sensor provider has its own science program for its sensor. The ADEOS science program is composed of these science programs. However, JAXA's ADEOS science program is larger than other programs of sensor providers because of its role as the platform provider. This paper describes the current status of JAXA's ADEOS science program.

JAXA established the ADEOS science program in order to ensure that the ADEOS data processing and analysis proves valuable for Earth system science. The major ADEOS science program activities are listed below.

  1. Algorithm development
  2. Data set generation
  3. CAL/VAL
  4. Field campaign
  5. Establishment of in-situ data base
  6. Management of JRA activities
  7. Review of ADEOS data information system
  8. Coordination of scientific mission operation requirements

Algorithm Development and Data Set Generation

One of the most important tasks of the ADEOS science program is to offer data sets derived from ADEOS data to Earth scientists for global change studies. Major data sets now considered are listed below.

  1. Global chlorophyll distribution
  2. Global sea surface temperature (SST)
  3. Global vegetation distribution
  4. Global sea surface wind vectors
  5. Global ozone distribution
  6. Aerosol distribution over ocean
  7. Local and regional land cover maps
  8. Global distribution of greenhouse effect gases
  9. Global flux of air-sea interaction
  10. Local digital elevation models (DEM)

PIs have been selected to develop these algorithms. The decision whether to generate these data sets or not will be made after sufficient validation.

CAL/VAL and Field Campaigns

In order to assure the quality (accuracy) of these data sets, we must sufficiently calibrate sensors and validate data products. Although sensor providers are responsible for calibrating and validating their own sensor, JAXA, as both the platform provider and as a sensor provider for AVNIR and OCTS, will establish its CAL/VAL plan for ADEOS. The main components of this ADEOS CAL/VAL are field campaigns dedicated to multiple sensors on board ADEOS. Hence, cross calibration and validation are the focus of these ADEOS field campaigns. The draft plans of these ADEOS field campaigns are listed below.

  1. Calibration
    Primary objectiveCalibration and cross calibration of ADEOS sensors
    Test siteCalifornia, USA
    Time periodFeb. 1997

  2. Validation - Ocean
    Primary objectiveValidation of oceanic geophysical parameters
    Test siteOff shore of Sanriku, Northwest Pacific
    Time periodMay 1997

  3. Validation - Atmosphere
    Primary objectiveValidation of atmospheric geophysical parameters
    Secondary objectiveSnow and ice studies
    Test siteFairbanks and Barrow, Alaska, USA
    Time periodApril 1997

  4. Validation - Vegetation
    Primary objectiveValidation of vegetation parameters
    Secondary objective (Test site 2)Validation of ozone
    Test site 1Paso, Malaysia
    Time periodJuly 1997
    Test site 2Yakutsk, Siberia, Russia
    Time periodSep. 1998

Establishment of In-situ Data Base

Field campaigns described above can provide valuable data for calibrating and validating ADEOS data processing and analyses. However, these data are essentially local data in time and space. We need much more in-situ data, not only for calibration and validation but also for data processing and analyses. In order to collect and manage these in-situ data for ADEOS science, JAXA is going to establish the ADEOS in-situ data base.

This ADEOS in-situ data base will be composed of many kinds of in-situ data, including data from field campaigns, data collected by ADEOS PIs, and data from existing data base such as meteorological data.

This data base will be established at the Earth Observation Research Center (EORC) which was established in April 1995 in Tokyo. Those data collected in the ADEOS in-situ data base, except some classified data, will be distributed to ADEOS PIs.

Management of JRA Activities

JAXA has already issued two research announcements jointly with other sensor providers. The first research announcement was issued jointly with the Ministry of International Trade and Industry and the Japan Environmental Agency, and focused on general aspects of ADEOS science. Around 150 PIs have already been selected through this joint research announcement (JRA). Another JRA was issued with CNES, France, and focused on POLDER science.

We are going to issue a third JRA in 1995 focused on using ADEOS data in Southeast Asia and a fourth JRA focused on specific areas which the first JRA PIs do not cover.

Mission Operation Coordination

Mission operation coordination is also important for the ADEOS science program. Although most ADEOS sensors are global sensors and will be operated continuously, some sensors have operations requirements. One typical sensor with operational requirements is AVNIR. AVNIR will be operated only on demand. Another problem of AVNIR is related to its pointing capability. Therefore, mission operation conflicts among the several requirements may occur.


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