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Satellites Eye Climate Change

Japan, US to monitor carbon emissions from orbit

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 14, 2009 3:54 AM CST

(Newser) – Japan and the US are using satellites to study global warming, the Economist reports. Last month Japan launched Ibuki—meaning breath—a satellite that will gather data from 56,000 points around the globe. America’s equivalent, the Orbital Carbon Observatory, will launch at the end of the month. Researchers hope to use data collected by the satellites to “audit” the Earth’s carbon cycle.

Ibuki has a spectrometer that can measure intensities of carbon and methane from the amount of reflected sunlight, and an instrument that measures the absorptive potential of clouds and other atmospheric gases. Scientists currently know the carbon output of power plants and other big man-made emitters, but don’t understand the mechanics of natural phenomena like a carbon-emitting wildfire or carbon-absorbing rainforest.

Two new satellites will gather data that scientists hope will shed light on the carbon impact of natural phenomena such as carbon-emitting forest fires and carbon-absorbing rain forests.
Two new satellites will gather data that scientists hope will shed light on the carbon impact of natural phenomena such as carbon-emitting forest fires and carbon-absorbing rain forests.   (AP Photo)
This artist rendering released by JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) shows the greenhouse-gas monitoring satellite Ibuki in orbit.
This artist rendering released by JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) shows the greenhouse-gas monitoring satellite "Ibuki" in orbit.   (AP Photo/Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, HO)
Staff conduct an experiment to check impact in opening the solar array panels of the greenhouse-gas monitoring satellite Ibuki in Tsukuba, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008.
Staff conduct an experiment to check impact in opening the solar array panels of the greenhouse-gas monitoring satellite "Ibuki" in Tsukuba, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008.   (AP Photo/Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, HO)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
riffran
Feb 14, 2009 4:37 AM CST
not mentioned is the fact that all the long range on board are focused on all the nude beaches.....just kidding....I wonder what the readouts over china and india are like as compared to the more heavily industrialized areas of our own country....would be intresting data
Guest
Feb 13, 2009 9:35 PM CST
well as someone who traveled to the parts of china where you will never see a blue sky, i'm guessing china and india

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