Observation data provided by meteorological satellites has diverse uses. For example, the data is used to grasp the global water cycle, capture sudden changes in local weather, tackle global climate change, and give us weather forecasts.

High-precision data substitute ground observation equipment

Some countries in Asia lack of meteorological observation equipment on the ground. This is because it is difficult to maintain the equipment due to cost and maintenance issues. In such countries, expectations are placed on satellite data to substitute for what cannot be covered by meteorological observation equipment. The rainfall map (GSMaP) below provided by JAXA has been created using multiple satellite data to predict hourly precipitation amounts for the entire globe.

Snowfall map

We have developed an algorithm for detecting snowfall from satellite data, which has enabled snow distribution data to be obtained each day. This map uses data from the Himawari-8 meteorological satellite. The white areas represent snow cover. Various fields are expected to utilize snowfall maps going forward.