Better haze, hotspot detection with new satellite
By Chew Hui Yan Posted 27 Jun 2016 10:54 Updated 27 Jun 2016 11:19
SINGAPORE: The Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) is making use of a Japanese satellite which allows for more frequent monitoring and improved detection of weather systems and hotspots or haze in the region, the agency announced on Monday (Jun 27).
The satellite, Japan Meteorological Agency's Next Generation Himawari-8 geostationary meteorological satellite, replaced the MTSAT-2 that ceased direct transmission in December. The Himawari-8 was operationalised in July 2015, and MSS has been making use of its imagery since then.
The Himawari-8 has a 10min frequency of updates - compared to hourly updates for the MTSAT-2, allowing for enhanced monitoring of haze and weather systems, said MSS. The Japanese satellite also has more than three times the spectral bands - 16 compared to five - to improve the range of detection, as well as higher spatial resolution, resulting in more detail in the satellite image.
MSS said that it primarily makes use of data from polar-orbitting satellites operated by the US' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Aeronautics and Space Administration to monitor hotspots and smoke haze in the region. These satellites normally make one day-time pass over the region each day.
NEW AEROSAL LIDAR ON JURONG ISLAND
To extend the observation network of real-time weather monitoring systems, the MSS has also installed an aerosol LIDAR – which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, a remote sensing method that uses light from a laser to measure ranges to Earth.
The detection system was installed on Jurong Island to measure the local distribution of particulate matter in the atmosphere, as well as a wind LIDAR.
This adds to the more than 60 automatic weather stations, a lightning detection system, weather radar and wind profiler in the network.
The aerosol LIDAR can measure the vertical extent of particulate matter to heights of about 12km, and provide an indication of upper level transboundary haze drifting into Singapore, MSS said. While it cannot differentiate particle size, it can also detect ash from volcanic eruptions in the region.
The wind LIDAR measures the vertical profile of wind speed and direction up to 12km above the ground level, and will complement MSS' existing wind profiler and enhance the real-time monitoring of upper-level winds, which affect the movement of weather systems and haze over Singapore.
"These new instruments can tell us not just the concentration of PM2.5 in the air but at different levels of the atmosphere and how they move according to wind conditions and atmospheric conditions," said Minister of Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli, who was briefed on the usage of the new technologies on Monday.
"We are still studying it but in the future I'm quite sure these can be used for even finer forecasts by the hour, making it more predictable for the public," he added.
- CNA/av
- wong chee tat :)
Showing posts with label satellite. Show all posts
Showing posts with label satellite. Show all posts
Monday, June 27, 2016
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Japan puts new weather satellite into space
Japan puts new weather satellite into space
Japan hopes the new satellite can improve the forecasting of typhoons and help with early warnings of volcano eruptions.
TOKYO: Japan put a new weather satellite into space Tuesday (Oct 7) in the hope it can improve the forecasting of typhoons and detect volcanic gas plumes.
The successful launch comes the day after a typhoon strafed Japan and just over a week after a volcano killed more than 60 people when it erupted without warning.
The Japanese-made H-2A rocket carrying the Himawari-8 weather satellite blasted into a blue sky at the Tanegashima Space Centre in southern Kagoshima prefecture at 2:16pm (1.16pm Singapore time).
The 17 billion yen (US$155 million) satellite separated successfully from the rocket and entered its designated orbit, sparking applause at the space centre, a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) spokeswoman told AFP.
Japan's Meteorological Agency will use the satellite, alongside the Himawari-9, which is to be launched in 2016, for forecasting and to replace its ageing Himawari-6 and -7. The new satellite "can obtain a satellite image of a typhoon once every 2.5 minutes, against the current pace of once every 30 minutes," an official of the weather agency told AFP.
"Together with improvement in computer-aided analysis, we hope our forecasts of a typhoon's future course will be more accurate," he said. "As satellite images will become multi-colour from the current black and white, it will be easier to observe volcanic gas" which will be helpful for early warnings of a volcanic eruption, he added.
- AFP/xq
- wong chee tat :)
Japan hopes the new satellite can improve the forecasting of typhoons and help with early warnings of volcano eruptions.
TOKYO: Japan put a new weather satellite into space Tuesday (Oct 7) in the hope it can improve the forecasting of typhoons and detect volcanic gas plumes.
The successful launch comes the day after a typhoon strafed Japan and just over a week after a volcano killed more than 60 people when it erupted without warning.
The Japanese-made H-2A rocket carrying the Himawari-8 weather satellite blasted into a blue sky at the Tanegashima Space Centre in southern Kagoshima prefecture at 2:16pm (1.16pm Singapore time).
The 17 billion yen (US$155 million) satellite separated successfully from the rocket and entered its designated orbit, sparking applause at the space centre, a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) spokeswoman told AFP.
Japan's Meteorological Agency will use the satellite, alongside the Himawari-9, which is to be launched in 2016, for forecasting and to replace its ageing Himawari-6 and -7. The new satellite "can obtain a satellite image of a typhoon once every 2.5 minutes, against the current pace of once every 30 minutes," an official of the weather agency told AFP.
"Together with improvement in computer-aided analysis, we hope our forecasts of a typhoon's future course will be more accurate," he said. "As satellite images will become multi-colour from the current black and white, it will be easier to observe volcanic gas" which will be helpful for early warnings of a volcanic eruption, he added.
- AFP/xq
- wong chee tat :)
Monday, October 28, 2013
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
N. Korea satellite appears dead: scientist
N. Korea satellite appears dead: scientist
Posted: 18 December 2012 0625 hrs
WASHINGTON: A satellite launched with fanfare last week by a defiant North Korea appears to be dead as no signal can be detected, a US-based astrophysicist who monitors space flights said Monday.
The United States and its Asian allies have acknowledged that North Korea succeeded Wednesday in putting an object into orbit that the communist state said was observing the Earth and airing patriotic songs.
Jonathan McDowell of the Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics said that the satellite was clearly in orbit but that no songs could be heard.
"To the best of our knowledge, the satellite isn't operating," he said.
"It's definitely up there and it's whizzing around, but it's just not feeling very well."
McDowell said it was unclear whether the satellite -- called the Kwangmyongsong-3 -- worked initially and that it remained possible that it was transmitting at a level too faint for detection.
But in another sign of trouble, McDowell said that the satellite was fluctuating in brightness. That means that the sun is shining at different angles and the satellite is not pointing down at the Earth as it should.
Even if not functioning, the satellite remains in orbit. The commercial site www.n2yo.com on Monday tracked the satellite as orbiting at least 505 kilometres (314 miles) above Earth, in line with North Korean statements.
"These things are hard to calculate, but roughly speaking, an object of that density at that height is going to stay up for a few years," McDowell said.
The state-run Korean Central News Agency last week quoted a scientist saying that the technology was "flawless" and that the satellite was broadcasting "Song of General Kim Il-Sung" and "Song of General Kim Jong-Il," references to the state's first two leaders.
The launch came days before the anniversary of Kim Jong-Il's death. His young son, Kim Jong-Un, succeeded him as leader of the regime, which conceded that an attempted launch in April malfunctioned.
The United States, South Korea and Japan all condemned the latest launch. Officials feared it was a veiled test for a long-range ballistic missile.
Pentagon spokesman George Little said that the United States was "still assessing" the North Korean object and that he was unaware of any danger posed.
- AFP/fa
- wong chee tat :)
Posted: 18 December 2012 0625 hrs
WASHINGTON: A satellite launched with fanfare last week by a defiant North Korea appears to be dead as no signal can be detected, a US-based astrophysicist who monitors space flights said Monday.
The United States and its Asian allies have acknowledged that North Korea succeeded Wednesday in putting an object into orbit that the communist state said was observing the Earth and airing patriotic songs.
Jonathan McDowell of the Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics said that the satellite was clearly in orbit but that no songs could be heard.
"To the best of our knowledge, the satellite isn't operating," he said.
"It's definitely up there and it's whizzing around, but it's just not feeling very well."
McDowell said it was unclear whether the satellite -- called the Kwangmyongsong-3 -- worked initially and that it remained possible that it was transmitting at a level too faint for detection.
But in another sign of trouble, McDowell said that the satellite was fluctuating in brightness. That means that the sun is shining at different angles and the satellite is not pointing down at the Earth as it should.
Even if not functioning, the satellite remains in orbit. The commercial site www.n2yo.com on Monday tracked the satellite as orbiting at least 505 kilometres (314 miles) above Earth, in line with North Korean statements.
"These things are hard to calculate, but roughly speaking, an object of that density at that height is going to stay up for a few years," McDowell said.
The state-run Korean Central News Agency last week quoted a scientist saying that the technology was "flawless" and that the satellite was broadcasting "Song of General Kim Il-Sung" and "Song of General Kim Jong-Il," references to the state's first two leaders.
The launch came days before the anniversary of Kim Jong-Il's death. His young son, Kim Jong-Un, succeeded him as leader of the regime, which conceded that an attempted launch in April malfunctioned.
The United States, South Korea and Japan all condemned the latest launch. Officials feared it was a veiled test for a long-range ballistic missile.
Pentagon spokesman George Little said that the United States was "still assessing" the North Korean object and that he was unaware of any danger posed.
- AFP/fa
- wong chee tat :)
Sunday, December 2, 2012
European observation satellite launched
European observation satellite launched
Posted: 02 December 2012 1100 hrs
PARIS: A Soyuz rocket carrying the European civil and military observation satellite Pleiades 1B took off late Saturday from the space centre in French Guiana, television footage showed.
The fourth takeoff of the Russian rocket from Kourou space centre in the Latin American country had been delayed by 24 hours after a snag had halted the countdown.
Pleiades 1B was to join its twin Pleiades 1A, launched nearly a year ago by another Soyuz rocket, in circular orbit at around 700 kilometres (440 miles) altitude.
- AFP/xq
- wong chee tat :)
Posted: 02 December 2012 1100 hrs
PARIS: A Soyuz rocket carrying the European civil and military observation satellite Pleiades 1B took off late Saturday from the space centre in French Guiana, television footage showed.
The fourth takeoff of the Russian rocket from Kourou space centre in the Latin American country had been delayed by 24 hours after a snag had halted the countdown.
Pleiades 1B was to join its twin Pleiades 1A, launched nearly a year ago by another Soyuz rocket, in circular orbit at around 700 kilometres (440 miles) altitude.
- AFP/xq
- wong chee tat :)
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