Earth observations using the Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite (GOSAT) series

 

What is the Greenhouse gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT) series?

　The mission objective of the GOSAT series of satellites is to contribute to the development of climate change science and policy. It consists of GOSAT (launched in 2009) and GOSAT-2 (launched in 2018), both of which are currently in operation, and GOSAT-GW (to be launched in 2024), which is currently under development.

Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite : GOSAT

　The greenhouse gases observing satellite mission is jointly conducted by the Ministry of the Environment, NIES, and JAXA in accordance with the Basic Plan for Space Policy to help solve global issues and realize a safe, secure, and prosperous society.

GOSAT

・GOSAT (nicknamed "IBUKI") is the world's first satellite dedicated to observing the concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane, two major greenhouse gases, from space. Since its launch on January 23, 2009, 14 years ago, the observations are ongoing.

・Analysis of GOSAT observational data provides insights to the global distribution of carbon dioxide and methane, their absorption and emission amounts, and their seasonal and interannual variations.

・This information is used to contribute to climate change science as well as to climate change policy.

・The "2019 Improvements to the IPCC Guidelines for Calculation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Absorption (2006)" which was approved at the 49th IPCC General Assembly meeting held in Kyoto, Japan in 2022, introduced many examples of GOSAT data applications and provided expectations for the GOSAT-2 mission.

・In the "IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) Working Group 1 (WG1) - Natural Scientific Basis", published in August 2021, monthly-averaged GOSAT data on atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane were included among other global datasets demonstrating increases in greenhouse gas concentrations and changes in the rate of increase in the global atmosphere.

・In March 2020 the Ministry of Environment established a study team to discuss how to prevent the GOSAT series from becoming space debris and remaining in orbit indefinitely once the operational period concludes. The team was tasked with examining the issue and making recommendations. In particular, more than 10 years after its launch, a decommissioning plan for GOSAT-1 was identified as a priority. An interim report was compiled in October 2020 and discussions are ongoing with the relevant parties.

（The Ministry of the Environment's Approach to the Space Debris Problem　Japanese version　English version）

GOSAT-2

・GOSAT-2 (nicknamed "IBUKI-2"), the successor to GOSAT, was launched on October 29, 2018, and began regular operations in February 2019.

・Compared to GOSAT, GOSAT-2 improves the accuracy of carbon dioxide and methane concentration observations with higher-performance onboard sensors. In addition, GOSAT-2 has increased functionality with the ability to concentrate on large emission sources such as major cities and to automatically locate and observe cloud-free areas.

・In order to further improve the ability to identify carbon dioxide emitted by human activities, simultaneous observations of carbon monoxide are also collected.

・GOSAT-2 aims to contribute to the implementation of nationally determined contributions (climate change measures) under the Paris Agreement and, in particular, the first Global Stocktake in 2023.

GOSAT-GW

・The third satellite of the GOSAT series is currently under development for launch in JFY2024 as a joint satellite for the GHG Observation Mission (Ministry of the Environment and the National Institute for Environmental Studies) and the Water Cycle Change Observation Mission (JAXA). The satellite is named "Global Observing SATellite for Greenhouse gases and Water cycle (GOSAT-GW)" to represent the two missions.

 

・GOSAT-GW aims to carry on the GHG observations as the successor to the missions of GOSAT and GOSAT-2,

（１）Continuous monitoring of carbon dioxide and methane concentrations in the global atmosphere

（２）Ensuring the transparency of countries' greenhouse gas inventory reporting under the Paris Agreement

（３）Refine climate change projections by monitoring large-scale emission sources.

Results of global greenhouse gas observation by GOSAT

Significance and characteristics of GOSAT observations

・Several meteorological organizations around the world, including the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), have calculated and published global average concentrations using ground-based observational data at the earth's surface. However, because the concentration of carbon dioxide varies with altitude, concentration data from ground stations alone does not represent the overall concentration of the Earth's atmosphere.
 

・In contrast, GOSAT does not measure the surface concentration of carbon dioxide, but rather the total amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from the surface to the top of the atmosphere. The future concentration of carbon dioxide projected in the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the average concentration in the "total atmosphere".

・In order to calculate and predict the risk of global warming due to future increases in greenhouse gases, it is important to calculate the average concentration of greenhouse gases over the entire planet, and it is essential to obtain an average that is representative of the "total atmosphere".

Observation Results　　※Links to external webpages

 

Related Materials and Pages

GOSAT Series Introduction Materials　　　Japanese version　English version

GOSAT Series Special Report　　　Japanese version　English version

Poster(s)

• Observing carbon dioxide with GOSAT Series　　Japanese version　English version

Pamphlet(s)

• Up to now and from now on～Observing the global atmosphere with the GOSAT Series～　　Japanese version　English version

Video(s)

• GOSAT: Advancing the science and policymaking on climate change　　Japanese version　English version
• Climate Change from Space and Earth: Challenges of the IBUKI series　[Japanese Only]
• Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite "IBUKI"-The "eyes" of space watching over the Earth　[Japanese Only]

 

Press release by the Ministry of the Environment

2023

• • • Confirmation of Agreement between CO2 Emissions Estimation by GOSAT Series Observation and the Values Report by the Mongolian Government
      (November 17, 2023). 

2022

• • • The annual increase in the mean concentration of methane in the atmosphere in 2021 has been the largest since 2011 - data from "IBUKI" (GOSAT)
      (March 10, 2022). [Japanese Only]

2020

• • • Future Actions on Space Debris Issues by the Ministry of the Environment (Interim Summary)
       (October 15, 2020) [Japanese Only]

2019

• • • Outcomes of the G20 Ministerial Meeting on Energy Transitions and Global Environment for Sustainable Growth in Karuizawa, Nagano, Japan
      (June 17, 2019)
    • The WMO World Data Centre for Greenhouse Gases (WDCGG) begins provision of data from the Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite (GOSAT)
      (March 19, 2019)

2018

• • • Results from the 12th Japan-Mongolia Environmental Policy Dialogue
      (December 21, 2008) [Japanese Only]
    • Launch Result of the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite-2 "IBUKI-2" (GOSAT-2) 
      (October 29, 2018) [Japanese Only]
    • Launch plan for the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite-2 "IBUKI-2" (GOSAT-2) 
      (August 28, 2018) [Japanese Only]

2017

• • • Release of total atmospheric methane mean concentration data from "IBUKI" (GOSAT)
      (June 2, 2017) [Japanese Only]

2016

• • • The total atmospheric average carbon dioxide concentration (seasonal variations removed) exceeded 400 ppm for the first time! -Flash report froｍ "IBUKI" (GOSAT) -
      (October 27, 2016) [Japanese Only]
    • Estimation of Anthropogenic Carbon Dioxide Concentration in Major Cities, etc., Using GOSAT (IBUKI) Observational Data
      (September 1, 2016) [Japanese Only]
    • Announcement of the Symposium on "IBUKI (GOSAT)" "Eyes in Space Watching over the Earth - Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite "IBUKI" Now and in the Future"
      (August 18, 2016) [Japanese Only]
    • The global atmospheric average carbon dioxide concentration exceeded 400 ppm for the first time - Observation flash report from "IBUKI" (GOSAT) -
      (May 20, 2016) [Japanese Only]

2015

• • • Relationship between methane observations from "IBUKI" (GOSAT) and anthropogenic emissions
      (November 27, 2015) [Japanese Only]
    • Publication of Monthly Carbon Dioxide (Total Atmospheric Average Concentration) values from "IBUKI" (GOSAT) 
      (November 16, 2015) [Japanese Only]
    • Announcement: Signing of Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation on GOSAT, OCO-2 and GOSAT-2 missions between Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Ministry of the Environment, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration
      (March 19, 2015) [Japanese Only]

2014

• • • Relationship between Carbon Dioxide Observations and Anthropogenic Emissions in Major Cities, etc. Using "IBUKI" (GOSAT) Observational Data
      (December 4, 2014) [Japanese Only]
    • Announcement: Estimation of Global Monthly Methane Budget Using "IBUKI" (GOSAT) Observational Data(March 27, 2014) [Japanese Only]

2012

• • • On the public release of carbon dioxide flux estimates based on the observational data by the Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite "IBUKI" (December 5, 2012)

2011

• • • On Estimating Global Monthly Carbon Dioxide Fluxes by Region, utilizing the observational data obtained by the Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite "IBUKI" (GOSAT)(December 5, 2012)

2010

• • • GOSAT (IBUKI) Third Research Announcement (RA) (August 20, 2010)
    • "The Symposium for Greenhouse Gases Observation from Space" to be held
      (July 13, 2010)
    • Provision of observation results of volcanic eruptions in Iceland and volcanic plume by Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT, "IBUKI") to the Government of United Kingdom(April 28, 2010) 
    • Announcement: First Release of Analysis Results (Carbon Dioxide and Methane Concentration, etc.) from "IBUKI" (GOSAT) Observational Data(February 16, 2010) [Japanese Only]

2009

• • • Announcement: General Release of Observational Data (Brightness Spectrum and Observation Images) by "IBUKI" (GOSAT) (October 30, 2009) [Japanese Only]
    • First Analysis of Greenhouse Gas Concentrations from "IBUKI" (GOSAT) Observational Data(May 28, 2009) [Japanese Only]
    • Announcement: 2^nd Public Offering for Research Proposals for the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite "IBUKI" (GOSAT) 
      (April 7, 2009) [Japanese Only]
    • Announcement: Launch Result of Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT) (January 23, 2009) [Japanese Only]

2008

• • • Announcement: Nickname for the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT) (October 15, 2008) [Japanese Only]
    • Announcement: Data Utilization Workshop for the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT)
      (October 15, 2008) [Japanese Only]
    • Announcement: Call for a Nickname of the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT)(July 10, 2008) [Japanese Only]
    • Announcement: 1^st Public Offering for Research Proposals for the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (April 7, 2008) [Japanese Only]

2004

• • • Symposium on the Utilization of the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT)(March 29, 2004) [Japanese Only]

 

Press releases from the project’s partner agencies

（since November 2018）

2023

• • • Update on the analysis method to estimate the greenhouse gas concentrations from GOSAT
      （April 18, 2023: NIES announcement）

2022

• • • Model Analysis of Atmospheric Observations Reveals Methane Leakage in North China — findings based on Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite “IBUKI” (GOSAT) observations
      (November 28, 2022: NIES announcement)

2021

• • • Relationship between Methane Emissions and Climate in Subtropical South America Observed by Satellite Observations: Analysis of Methane Estimates and Precipitation Data by "IBUKI" (GOSAT)
       (December 14, 2021: NIES announcement) [Japanese Only]

2020

• • • Error Correction of Methane Concentration Estimates from "IBUKI" (GOSAT) by Proxy Method - Analysis of 10 years of observational data -
       (December 14, 2021: NIES announcement) [Japanese Only]
    • Regarding results of GOSAT-2 observational data analysis (carbon dioxide, methane, and carbon monoxide) and the start of their public release
      (November 12, 2020: NIES announcement)

2019

• • • Regarding results of GOSAT-2 observational data analysis (carbon dioxide, methane, and carbon monoxide) and the start of their public release
      (July 5, 2019: NIES announcement)
    • Agreement with the European Meteorological Organization (EUMETSAT) on Remote Sensing of Greenhouse Gases and Related Missions
      (May 16, 2019: JAXA announcement) [Japanese Only]

2018

• • • First Observation by the Greenhouse Gases Observing Sensor type 2 (FTS-2) onboard the "IBUKI-2"
      (December 26, 2008: JAXA) [Japanese Only]
    • First light Data for IBUKI-2's CAI-2
      (November 9, 2008: JAXA)

 

Website Links for the project’s partner organizations

National Institute for Environmental Studies,Japan (NIES)

GOSAT Project　　http://www.gosat.nies.go.jp/en/

GOSAT-2 Project　　http://www.gosat-2.nies.go.jp

GOSAT-GW Project　　https://gosat-gw.nies.go.jp/en/

>>>If you would like to use GOSAT series data, please click here (user registration is required).

・GOSAT Data Archive Service 

・GOSAT-2 Product Archive 

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency  (JAXA)

Space Technology Directorate I  - GOSAT Project　　https://global.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/gosat/

Space Technology Directorate I  - GOSAT-2 Project　　https://global.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/gosat2/

Space Technology Directorate I  - GOSAT-GW Project　　https://www.satnavi.jaxa.jp/ja/project/gosat-gw/en/

Earth Observation Research Center - GOSAT HP　　　http://www.eorc.jaxa.jp/GOSAT/