Status of Next Generation Japanese Geostationary Meteorological Satellites Himawari-8/9 and their Products

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) plans to employ Himawari-8 and Himawari-9, which are the next generation Japanese geostationary meteorological satellites following the currently operational satellite MTSAT-2 (Himawari-7). Himawari-8 will be launched in 2014 and JMA will commence its operation in 2015, when MTSAT-2 is scheduled to complete its designed period of operation. JMA also plans to launch Himawari-9 in 2016.

Himawari-8 and -9 carry the Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) units comparable to the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) on board GOES-R, which is also the next generation satellite planned to be launched by the National Ocean and Atmosphere Administration / the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NOAA/NESDIS) in the United States. The observing functions of AHI will be enhanced from those of MTSAT-2 as below.

-Multi-channel capacity (16 channels)

-High spatial resolution (0.5 – 1.0km for visible and 1 – 2km for infrared)

-Fast imaging (within 10 minutes for full disk)

-Rapid scanning with flexible area selection and scheduling

Observation images of AHI are expected to contribute to improvement of weather watch, tropical cyclone analysis, numerical weather prediction and climate/environment monitoring. To provide effective information to users at the beginning of Himawari-8 operation, JMA has set up an environment for the development of new products retrieved from the next generation satellites.

JMA is interested in pursuing scientific and prototyping activities in collaboration with CGMS members. It is making a strong effort to develop Atmospheric Motion Vector (AMV) and cloud analysis products. The development of the products including quantitative information on volcanic ash and dust is also emphasized in JMA. The algorithm development of these products will be implemented with the cooperation of EUMETSAT and NOAA/NESDIS, which already operate or are preparing to use new generation multi-channel imaging instruments (MSG/MTG and GOES-R).

JMA has set up a web page with information on Himawari-8 and -9 at http://mscweb.kishou.go.jp/himawari89/index.html. This page provides information on the schedule, specifications of the spacecraft and AHI, including estimated spectral response functions (SRF) and simulated AHI proxy data.