Sep 15 (NHK) - Japan's space agency has unveiled a new observation satellite designed to allow more accurate predictions of global climate change.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, showed the completed Shikisai satellite to reporters at its Tsukuba Space Center, north of Tokyo, on Thursday.
The satellite is about 2.6 meters wide and 4.7 meters high. It is equipped with 2 sophisticated optical sensors to monitor aerosol particles in the atmosphere, as well as vegetation and temperatures, on a long-term basis.
Researchers hope the data will improve their understanding of the mechanisms behind climate change.
Global warming is thought to be a cause of the recent increase in extreme weather, including flash floods and sudden, localized downpours.
But researchers say they do not have sufficient satellite observation data at the moment to predict long-term temperature increases or the frequency of extreme weather events.
Source: ANNnewsCH
