The international community may soon have a more accurate picture of greenhouse gas sources around the planet, following the launch last week of a Japanese satellite created to monitor emissions.
The satellite, which is the first of its kind, has been dubbed IBUKI, a word meaning "breath." It will circle the globe every 100 minutes, acquiring data to be shared with space and scientific organizations.
"The satellite is expected to play an important role in monitoring global environmental changes and look out for any small warning signs that could affect our future," said JAXA in a statement.
Currently greenhouse gas emissions are based on estimates and self-declarations by industries and countries. The satellite is expected to provide a much more accurate depiction of both emissions and absorption of greenhouse gas.
The the Greenhouse Gases Observing
Satellite (GOSAT) has three major mission objectives. The first is to monitor the density of greenhouse gases precisely and frequently. The second is to study the absorption and emission levels of greenhouse gases per continent or large country over a certain period of time. And the third is to establish advanced technologies essential for precise greenhouse gas observations.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHVYF.PK) and the Japan Aerospace
Exploration Agency, JAXA, launched the satellite.
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