A Japanese satellite is set to be launched before the end of January which, once in space, will assess the global greenhouse gas situation, according to information provided by officials on January 7th 2009. The hope is that what information GOSAT, or the ‘Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite’ picks up can be used in anti-climate change efforts.

According to JAXA, Japan’s Aerospace Exploration Agency, scientists dealing with the data it gathers will be able to work out to what extent methane and CO2 are present at 56,000 worldwide locations.

At present, said JAXA project manager Takashi Hamazaki, there are only 282 sites on earth that observe greenhouse gases, meaning that the satellite’s scope for covering the situation will potentially be far greater.

“To fight climate change, we need to monitor the density of greenhouse gases in all regions around the world and how their levels change", Takashi advised in comments made to the media, adding: “But at the moment, there are very few observation sites on land and they are concentrated in certain areas.”

By “certain areas”, Takashi said, he meant that developing countries were yet to have greenhouse gas observation centres set up on their soil. These countries and more, he explained, would, however, come under GOSAT’s sphere of coverage.

Infrared Rays

GOSAT is fitted with a pair of sensors that will follow infrared rays emitted by the earth. Since, in some situations, both CO2 and methane absorb these rays, the scientists involved will be able to work out the relative densities of these gases

GOSAT’s period of orbit is expected to last until 2014 and, during its time in space, it will be assimilating data on a monthly basis. The first batch of data is tentatively anticipated to be ready for scientific analysis by May.

Kyoto Protocol

The launch of GOSAT comes one day after it emerged that Japan may open up one million new jobs– a move that is designed both as an anti-climate change drive, and one that, in the context of the current global financial position, is seen as a potential Japanese economy-booster too.

The pressure is on Japan to attain the demands of the Kyoto Protocol, on which terms its CO2 and other emissions need to fall to six per cent below their position in 1990.

Commenting on GOSAT, one figure connected to Japan’s environmental agency highlighted his hope that the data accumulated by the satellite would shape a report on climate change due from the UN in five years time.