1. The ninth meeting of the Regional Working Group on Meteorological Satellite Applications for Natural Hazards Monitoring (RWG) noted with satisfaction the progress made by the member countries in the area of meteorological satellite applications and natural hazards monitoring. The meeting also noted the willingness of the members of the Regional Working Group to enhance regional cooperation and appreciated the continued support given by member countries to the Regional Space Applications Programme for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific (RESAP), as well as the opportunities offered by some member countries for cooperation in space technology development and applications.
2. The Regional Working Group appreciated the efforts of the ESCAP secretariat to organize meetings of the Regional Working Groups in conjunction with the tenth meeting of the Regional Working Group on Remote Sensing, Geographic Information Systems and Satellite-based Positioning with a common thematic issue on disaster management, and back to back with the tenth session of the Intergovernmental Consultative Committee (ICC). The meeting recommended that such arrangements to address a common theme topic of priority to members should be continued, taking into consideration the capacity of the host country to host all the meetings.
3. The meeting agreed that informed natural disaster management is a major field to which space technology may contribute. The meeting emphasized that the work of the RWG should not overlap with the current work of other organizations, such as the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The meeting noted with appreciation that meteorological satellite information has been operationally used in some countries for combating certain natural disasters: products and services were developed to meet the requirement of disaster management authorities, and relevant policy and institutional arrangements were also established. The meeting appreciated the progress of India in bringing such services into operation. The meeting recognized that such good practices should be summarized for replication among its members. In this connection, the meeting recommended that the task force, which was suggested by last RWG meeting, should be established and co-led by China and India. China should emphasize updating the previously compiled handbook to reflect recent development on meteorological-satellite-derived products and services; India should focus on documenting best practices in relevant policy and institutional mechanisms supporting operational utilization of such products and services by disaster management authorities. The meeting encouraged its members to assist the task force in collecting information among relevant organizations in their countries.
4. The Regional Working Group also noted that space information products and services derived from Earth observation satellites are becoming important. In this respect, efforts towards developing a policy framework on space information products and services should be pursued by ESCAP.
5. The meeting noted with satisfaction the efforts made by the ESCAP secretariat for implementation of the Regional Space Applications Programme, especially in promoting regional cooperative mechanisms for operational applications of space technology for disaster management. The Regional Working Group expressed strong support for jointly addressing natural disaster management through a regional cooperative approach. It appreciated the willingness of space-capable countries to work closely with ESCAP in providing meaningful support to disaster management in the Asian-Pacific region.
6. Regarding the third Ministerial Conference on space technology applications to be held in 2007, the Regional Working Group recognized the necessity of identifying new contribution areas of meteorological satellite applications, which would help the countries in the region to achieve the development goals set by Millennium Development Goals (MDG), WSIS and WSSD, in such fields as fisheries-oriented services. In this connection, the meeting encouraged the secretariat to continue the successful practice of organizing the RWG meeting jointly with other relevant RWGs on common themes, to produce synergy and more cooperation opportunities.
7. The meeting recognized that many agencies and research institutes have provided products derived from meteorological satellite through Internet for access free of charge, and many members of the RWG are using such products for their business. The meeting recognized that it provides an opportunity for countries lacking relevant technical capabilities to access these products in near real time. Since most of them are research-oriented, there was a need to encourage these service providers to develop and provide user-friendly products and services to meet operational requirements.
8. The meeting noted the concerns of members regarding uncommitted participation in the meetings due to unavailability of resources and lack of communication between mainland Asia and the Pacific Islands. It was suggested that, to reduce the effects of isolation, at least the final products of the meetings sessions and seminars should be communicated to the island countries on a timely manner. The utilization of information products, methodologies and models should be disseminated to the right organizations by using appropriate approaches, such as short workshops. It was suggested that such arrangements could be realized under the framework of Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC).
9. The meeting noted that community-based disaster management is one of the best ways to reduce the damage of the disasters. Towards this approach, high-resolution remote sensing information and satellite communication can contribute, such as through community information centres connected via satellite. RWG should identify some niche applications amenable to operational use of meteorological satellites, in tune with the overall priorities and focus of ESCAP. The meeting recommended that relevant RWGs would explore cooperation opportunities to address related issues in this field.
10. The meeting appreciated the excellent work done by the Republic of Korea as the Coordination Office for the period 2000-2004. The meeting also appreciated the offer made by Malaysia to host the Coordination Office for 2004-2006, subject to the approval of relevant government organs.
11. The meeting requested the secretariat to explore the possibility of holding its next meeting jointly with the RWG/RSGIS, with the common theme on disaster management products and services, and back to back with the ICC session.
12. The ninth meeting of the Regional Working Group on Meteorological Satellite Applications and Natural Disaster Management was held in Bangalore, India, from 18 to 20 October 2004. The meeting was organized by ESCAP and hosted generously by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). The meeting was organized jointly with the tenth meeting of the Regional Working Group on Remote Sensing, GIS and Satellite-based Positioning.
13. Mr Jayaraman, Director, Earth Observations System (EOS) of ISRO, welcomed the participants to the meeting of the Regional Working Group on behalf of the Government of India. The Chief of the Information, Communication and Space Technology division of ESCAP, in his address to the meeting, recognized the usefulness of Earth observation satellites and emergency communications using communication satellites for disaster management. He recalled that ESCAP is seeking to bridge this digital divide, most notably in areas of poverty alleviation, emerging social issues, and managing globalization, and noted that the applications of space technology addressed by the Regional Working Groups helped to meet these goals. All would agree that efforts should be further pursued so that less advanced members could also benefit from these technologies.
14. In his address, Mr P.S. Goel, Director of the ISRO Satellite Centre, praised RESAP as a unique mechanism for space technology applications to be harnessed for the benefits of all countries in the region. He recalled that ISRO has kept in mind the developing world and has developed space technology applications not only for India but also for the benefit of the whole region. India has recently successfully launched the EDUSAT satellite dedicated to education, which will provide connectivity to all villages for various other applications as well.
15. In his inaugural address, Prof. U.R. Rao, Former Chairman of ISRO and Secretary of the Department of Space of the Government of India, recalled the first meeting in preparation of the Regional Space Applications Programme. He drew the attention of the meeting in particular to the need for cooperation to address the important tasks of food security, poverty alleviation and disaster reduction in the region. He noted that, with expanding globalization and the widening digital divide, the developing countries of Asia and the Pacific shared many challenges. To alleviate poverty, there is a need for education and empowerment of people, in which space technology applications could play a strategic role. He drew the meeting's attention to the fact that capacity-building for disaster management has to be addressed at all levels and that there is a need for an effective early warning system to be institutionalized.
16. The meeting was attended by the following member countries: India, Japan, Malaysia, Republic of Korea and Thailand. An observer from the Pacific Disaster Centre also attended the meeting. The list of the participants is attached.
17. The meeting elected the following persons as members of its Bureau:
F. Report on the work of the Regional Working Group over the preceding year
1. Report of the Coordination Office
19. The Coordination Office of the Regional Working Group, hosted by the Forecast Bureau of the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), reported on the Working Group's activities since the previous meeting. The report summarized the meteorological satellite applications in the member countries of Australia, China, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand, as well as the outcomes of the fifth meeting of Asia-Pacific Satellite Data Exchange and Utilization (APSDEU-5), which defined space-based observation networks as complementary to surface observation networks. At that meeting KMA, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) agreed to investigate the possibility of real-time-based data exchange among the organizations. The meteorological satellite information, in particular, is well utilized for monitoring natural disasters, such as drought, the monsoon, typhoons, floods and severe dust storms.
20. The meeting was informed that Australia has set up a network of ground receiving stations to capture data from GOES-9 and MTSAT-1R. Australia is extensively using data from FY-1C, FY-1D, ERS-2, DMSP and QuikScat for monitoring natural disasters.
21. In China, the National Satellite Meteorology Centre (NSMC) is planning to collect, archive and catalogue FY-2C data in January 2005. The FY-2A satellite has been relocated to 860E as a backup satellite for FY-2B, which is located at 1050E. FY-1C ceased transmission in February 2004, and FY-1D, launched in May 2002, is operating well. The remaining FY-2 series satellites are scheduled for launch in 2004, 2007 and 2010. The first satellite in the advanced FY-3 series will be launched in 2006. Natural disasters were being monitored with meteorological satellites, including FY-1C, FY-1D, FY-2B, NOAA, GMS and EOS/MODIS.
22. In Hong Kong, China, the Hong Kong Observatory installed a ground reception system for receiving the very-high-resolution MODIS data from the EOS series in mid-2004. The Observatory receives the satellite-derived products from GTS and the Internet for use in operational weather forecasting and research. Applications of the MODIS data in meteorology and related fields such as air pollution and red tide monitoring will be explored. In the near future, image products will be made available to the public via the Internet.
23. In Japan, the new multifunctional satellite MTSAT-1R has a number of improved functions over GMS-5, including better resolution and an additional 3.7-µm channel. It will transmit HiRID and HRIT for MDUS, and LRIT for SDUS. Major improvements are expected for several applications, including sea surface temperature, atmospheric motion vectors, and aerosol optical thickness.
24. In Malaysia, data from GOES-9, NOAA series and FY-1D meteorological satellites data are currently being received to produce various application products. The GOES-9 satellite images are on average updated every half hour. The application products are used mainly for weather monitoring and issuance of heavy rain warnings, and for forest fire detection. Malaysia is in the process of receiving data from FY-2C (to be launched sometime around mid-October 2004). Once MTSAT-1R is in operational status, the MDUS (medium-scale data utilization station) that is presently being used to receive and process data from GOES-9 will be used to receive and process data from MTSAT-1R. In preparation for the higher generation of polar orbiting satellites, i.e. the NPOESS series and FY-3 series, which might start operation by the year 2009 (FY-3A possibly in 2007), the Malaysian Meteorological Service might plan to incorporate the receiving and processing of data from the MODIS scanner (on board satellites Terra and Aqua) during their next upgrade.
25. In Thailand, owing to data incompatibility, none of the satellite receiving stations is currently receiving GOES-9 data. The Meteorological Department, for its day-to-day operations, uses the satellite information, images and derived products obtained from an Internet complement to other weather information and analysis. There have been no major problems with acquired satellite data for its operation for the past few years.
2. Regional Report of the ESCAP secretariat
26. The ESCAP secretariat presented a report summarizing the main activities and achievements implemented at the regional level within the reporting. The meeting was reminded of the goals of the newly established Information, Communication and Space Technology Division to assist capacity-building in creating an enabling environment for information, communication and space technology development, transfer and applications. The priorities of RESAP would focus on the promotion of regional cooperative mechanisms on space applications for disaster management, and preparation of the region for satellite-based broadband services and applications, such as education, health and community-based information service centres.
27. During the last year, the ESCAP secretariat organized and serviced the meetings of four Regional Working Groups and the Intergovernmental Consultative Committee on RESAP; developed proposals and implemented technical cooperation projects in disaster management with financial and in-kind support from China, France and the Republic of Korea; provided 32 fellowships to support training and education activities hosted by China, India and Indonesia on a Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries basis; and continued the regional information services through its publication of studies on CD-ROM and its web site. The meeting was also informed that a high-ranking panel on knowledge-based disaster management was organized as a side meeting at the 60th Commission of ESCAP at Shanghai in April 2004.
28. The secretariat briefed the meeting of the Regional Working Group on the progress made in the implementation of common denominator projects on disaster management. With the increasing number of space-capable countries within and outside the region that have expressed their intention to support disaster management, the secretariat has been promoting regional cooperative mechanisms in various areas of space technology applications for disaster management, to foster a harmonized environment for international sharing of resources, and to help overcome national gaps in capabilities to prepare for and respond to natural disasters.
29. Since the inception of the project Capacity-Building for Disaster Management in Asia and the Pacific, financially supported by the Government of France, a series of regional workshops and studies on disaster management and cooperative mechanisms have been organized. In 2004, regional workshops hosted by Singapore, India and Indonesia were held with the participation of space agencies, space information service providers and end-user agencies from disaster management authorities or agricultural drought monitoring agencies to discuss specific mechanisms on flood and drought management. The major conclusions and recommendations of the workshops were reported.
30. The secretariat is initiating a project on enhanced national capacity in policy-making on natural disaster management using information, communication and space technology. The financial support is from the Government of the Republic of Korea. The expected outputs of the project are a regional framework for policy formulation at the national level and for regional cooperation, and relevant guidelines to facilitate operational provision and utilization of products and services for informed disaster management. A meeting of experts on policy frameworks for space information products and services for disaster management, comprising information service providers and end-users from disaster management authorities, will be organized on 17-19 November 2004 in Beijing, back to back with the CEOS Plenary.
3. Country reports by the national contact points
31. The Meeting noted with satisfaction that considerable progress has been made by member states over the past period.
Australia
32. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology is the main agency in Australia responsible for natural disaster monitoring, through its statutory responsibility to provide national weather services.
33. The Bureau operates a real-time network for the reception and processing of remotely sensed data from meteorological and related satellites. Due to the cessation of the high-resolution imaging function of Japan's GMS-5 geostationary meteorological satellite in March 2003, the Bureau has consolidated its reception network to include data from the United States' GOES-9. The Bureau's network currently consists of facilities in Melbourne and at Crib Point (80 km south-east of Melbourne) for the reception of the GOES-9 GVAR high-resolution imagery data, and NOAA High-Resolution Picture Transmission (HRPT) stations at Darwin, Perth, Melbourne, Crib Point, Alice Springs and Casey (Antarctica). The facilities in Sydney and Darwin for reception of GMS-5 Stretched-VISSR (Visible and Infrared Spin Scan Radiometer) still exist but are currently not in use. These stations will return to operational status with the successful launch of Japan's replacement for GMS-5, the Multifunctional Transport Satellite (MTSAT-1R). A number of other agencies operate satellite reception systems primarily for NOAA satellites. These include the Commonwealth Scientific, Industrial and Research Organization (CSIRO) and the Australian Institute of Marine Science.
34. The GOES-9 imager data is processed and archived in Melbourne using the Bureau's distributed UNIX system. The Bureau continues to operate the Turn-Around Ranging Stations (TARS) in support of Japan's GMS-5 and China's Feng Yun-2 geostationary meteorological satellite. GMS-5 is being used for WEFAX and DCP functions. Previous applications that used the S-VISSR images from GMS-5 have been modified to use the imager data from GOES-9. These include atmospheric motion vectors at high temporal and spatial resolution, solar radiation, fog/low cloud detection, volcanic ash detection, Advanced TIROS Operational Vertical Soundings (ATOVS) radiance data applications, tropical cyclone monitoring via the Dvorak technique, Normalized Difference Vegetation Indices (NDVIs) and Grassland Curing Indices (GCIs), and bushfire monitoring. A number of satellite-derived applications support operational products and services to external users through the Bureau's web service (http://www.bom.gov.au ). These services are daily global insulation, daily regional sea surface temperatures, and Antarctic sea ice imagery. A low cloud/fog product has also been developed and is in operational use in support of the Bureau's forecast and warning service, especially for aviation support.
35. The Bureau has made extensive use of China's FY-1C and FY-1D satellites for monitoring natural disasters. FY-1D is currently received in Crib Point and experimentally in Darwin, the main use of the data being for forecasting and the preparation of false-colour-enhanced imagery using selected channels. An FY-1D reception capability is currently being implemented in Casey in Antarctica. FY-1D data is useful in ash cloud detection, hotspot detection, smoke plume mapping, and sea ice monitoring, amongst other applications.
36. Bureau Flood Warning Centres in the capital city of each state and territory in Australia provide a range of flood warning services to emergency management agencies within their respective regions. There is a growing, but still limited, use of satellites for detecting and monitoring the extent and movement of flooding in large inland river systems. Satellite observations do, however, play an important role in the estimation of precipitation as a forecast input to the flood prediction process. Current research underway in the Bureau, in collaboration with the Australian Cooperative Research Centre for Catchment Hydrology, is looking at the integration of satellite observations with radar and gauge observations to produce improved areal rainfall estimates for a wide range of operational hydrology and water resource assessment applications. The INMARSAT mini-M network is used operationally for flood warning data collection in the Northern Territory and Western Australia, with test sites located in other states. At present rainfall and/or river level data is collected from a total of 24 locations (13 in Western Australia and 11 in the Northern Territory). The use of satellites for hydrological data collection is expected to grow as the temporal and spatial coverage of satellite systems improves.
37. The Bureau is committed to further development and promotion of existing satellite applications and further exchange of data, as well as assisting the remote sensing community in developing new applications of interest, with special applications for natural disaster monitoring. Particular attention is being focused on assimilation of data into NWP models.
38. The Bureau is cooperating with JMA to further improve the design, development, upgrading and operation of a Satellite Animation and Interactive Diagnoses (SATAID) server, which the Bureau has implemented operationally (http://www3.bom.gov.au:50005/MSC/ ). SATAID is a JMA CAL-related software package to enable display and manipulation of satellite and related data, and is now in use in many countries. The Bureau's SATAID server now supplies reduced-volume GOES-9 satellite data in SATAID format, especially to national meteorological and hydrological services in the Asia-Pacific region, thereby assisting many developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region to access such data (and MTSAT-1R in the future). The server was established as part of broader cooperation with JMA on satellite data utilization, training and CAL matters. The Bureau's work has been acknowledged internationally via the Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites. The Bureau's effort is a direct contribution to the satellite programme aims of WMO for extending the use of satellite data.
China
39. The National Contact Point of China to the RWG, though not able to attend the meeting, submitted a report to the meeting. The meteorological satellite programme of China consists of two major systems, which are the polar orbiting meteorological satellite system and the geostationary meteorological satellite system.
40. The geostationary FY-2B satellite is located at 1050E and provides the operational service. It operates 24 hours a day, obtaining 28 full-view images (four for wind observation) and six black body calibrations. The FY-2 satellite is open to the international users by transmitting S-VISSR high-resolution digital data every hour for free reception.
41. The sun-synchronous-orbit FY-1C is used as the alternative satellite for supporting the primary operational service of FY-1D, which was launched on 15 May 2002. Its HRPT and DPT data have been used in operational weather forecasting, land surface monitoring, global climate and environment monitoring, and other uses. The FY-3 series, the second generation of Chinese polar orbiting meteorological satellite, is now in the manufacture and subsystem test phase. It is expected that the first satellite of the series would be launched in 2006. China plans to develop three successive geostationary satellites: FY-2C, D, and E, with necessary improvements on the basis of the two experimental satellites FY-2A and 2B. It is expected that FY-2C will be launched in May of 2004, FY-2D in 2006, and FY-2E in 2009. The next generation of geostationary FY-4 series meteorological satellite is in its system design phase and may be launched after 2015.
42. From the summer of 2002 to present, NSMC and the China Meteorological Administration have been continuously using a daily operational system to monitor natural disasters and the environment nationwide with meteorological satellite data. During this period, there were several important natural disasters in China, including the severe drought in southern China, the major forest fire in the natural forest area of the north-east part of China, the flood that occurred in the Huaihe basin, the snow disaster that happened in north-eastern China, and others. All these natural disasters were monitored with meteorological satellites, which included FY-1C, FY-1D, FY-2B, NOAA, GMS and EOS/MODIS. A large volume of disaster information was derived from satellite data and distributed to the related government departments and various users.
43. For drought monitoring, 30-year conventional data were processed to form precipitation anomaly, land surface temperature anomaly, and air temperature anomaly; their relations have been analysed, and the results show that they have a good negative correlation. Twenty-year satellite brightness temperature anomaly and the precipitation anomaly for the same period have also been compared, and similar results were obtained. The indications are that brightness temperature is an important factor for drought monitoring. Moreover, the Vegetation Index is another factor for drought monitoring. A new remote sensing drought monitoring method is being developed.
44. Although China has experienced much drought in recent years, some flooding still occurs, quite often in some areas. NSMC monitors the water body changes over seven major river basins of China every day with FY-1D and EOS/MODIS data.
45. Forest and grassland fire monitoring is still an important application of remote sensing in China. FY-1C and 1D and NOAA-12 and 16 are used to search the hot spots over the country every day, and EOS/MODIS data are also used for calculating the size of the burned area. GIS and database techniques are also used to analyse the fire situation in any period by generating a fire spot distribution map and statistical information.
46. Besides the monitoring of forest and grassland fires, floods and drought, NSMC/CMA are also continuously monitoring other natural disasters and environmental events, including snow disasters and snow cover, vegetation growth, sea ice, algae in lakes, city islands and so forth, with meteorological and environments satellites. Much useful information is derived from satellite data and sent to government departments for their reference.
Hong Kong, China
47. The representative from the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO), though not able to attend the meeting, submitted a report to the meeting. HKO provides weather forecasting and warning services in Hong Kong, China. It operates ground reception stations to receive satellite images from a host of meteorological satellites, including GOES-9 and FY-2B, the geostationary meteorological satellites covering Hong Kong, China, as well as the NOAA series and FY-1 series of polar-orbiting weather satellites. These satellite images are essential to the operation of warning services for tropical cyclones and rainstorms, which have significant social and economic impacts.
48. In mid-2004, HKO installed a new ground reception system for receiving Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) direct broadcast data from the NASA Earth Observing System (EOS) series of satellites. Work is underway to generate derived products from MODIS data, such as high-resolution imagery, sea surface temperature plot, chlorophyll concentration plot, Vegetation Index picture, thermal anomaly points, and aerosol optical thickness plot.
49. Apart from receiving direct broadcasts from meteorological satellites, the Observatory also receives a variety of satellite-derived products from the Global Telecommunication System (GTS) and from the Internet for use in operational weather forecasting and research. Notably, QuikScat ocean surface wind data are used for locating the centre and estimating the intensity of tropical cyclones over the western Pacific and the South China Sea.
50. HKO makes available on its web site (http://www.weather.gov.hk ) real-time, high-resolution satellite images of the region for public access, including images from GOES-9, FY-2B, Meteosat-5, NOAA series and FY-l series, as well as past interesting images showing common weather systems and calamities brought about by adverse weather in the Asia-Pacific region. These web pages of satellite images attracted more than 5 million visits in 2003.
51. To promote public awareness, HKO organized training courses for members of the public on the interpretation of satellite images in 2004. These training courses were very well received.
52. The Observatory and Hong Kong Polytechnic University were conducting a joint research study to extract and process GPS data to estimate the moisture content in the atmosphere, using data from 12 dual-frequency GPS land-based receivers installed in Hong Kong. Real-time traces of the estimated moisture content from those ground stations are provided to forecasters with a view of providing hints for "nowcasting" the possibility of rainstorms. Numerical modelling studies on using the GPS data were being carried out for improving the model moisture analysis and short-range quantitative rainfall forecast in Hong Kong.
53. Applications of MODIS data in meteorology and related fields such as air pollution and red tide monitoring is being explored by HKO. Image products will be made available to the public via the Internet.
India
54. With meteorological instruments that comprised a Very-High-Resolution Radiometer (VHRR) and a charge coupled device (CCD) camera, INSAT-3E was launched in September 2003. RESOURCESAT-1, the most advanced remote sensing satellite built by ISRO so far, was successfully launched by PSLV during the year. The satellite has a unique combination of three cameras - a multi-spectral stereo camera with a high spatial resolution of 5.8 metres, a camera with a medium spatial resolution of 23.5 m, and a camera with coarse spatial resolution of 56 m but with a large swath. They have greatly enhanced the satellite's remote sensing capability, especially for preparing detailed thematic maps for monitoring agricultural crops, forests, drought assessment, flood mapping and urban planning.
55. Taking into account the earlier experiences of ISRO - working closely with user agencies in the areas of floods, cyclones, drought, landslides, forest fires and the like - and to arrive at the specific role that ISRO could play operationally, a prototype end-to-end pilot project was conducted addressing flood management needs in the Brahmaputra basin, which helped in defining the in-house Disaster Management Support (DMS) mechanisms and aided in identifying feasible services and the overall programme elements.
56. The DMS Programme aims at strengthening the institutional capacity for disaster management in the country. Towards this goal, the tasks envisaged include the following: positioning the space, ground and applications segments through an appropriate organizational framework and programme elements, which could provide timely information with the available space systems to the disaster management community, and do so routinely; institutionalization of space applications in terms of addressing the outstanding issues related to disaster management; and the transition of ISRO/DOS to a new role as the country's operational service provider for disaster management.
57. Conceptually, the DMS systems are built upon organizing the following elements: database warehousing; technological tools - remote sensing, airborne systems with optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and laser capabilities - and other conventional techniques; modelling (GIS, stochastic and other simulations); and networking solutions, mostly web-enabled services. The conceived DMS is based on synthesizing these elements to arrive at the operational service.
58. The programme elements have been arrived at by taking into account some of the services for which the role of space applications is critical and operationally feasible. The services, which could be of the direct inputs, include rapid mapping and event monitoring within 12 hours of the disaster event (T+12 hrs turn-around time) using coarse-resolution remote sensing data, damage assessment, continuity of satellite aided search and rescue services. The supportive services are (a) creation of digital databases at appropriate scale for hazard zonation in selected perennially disaster-prone areas, (b) development of appropriate remote sensing and GIS-based decision-support tools and techniques, and demonstrations to cater to the information needs at various levels, (c) proof-of-concept study for agricultural drought, and acquisition of close-contour (< 1 m) information for selected areas, and (d) strengthening the communications backbone, to address real-time and near-real-time needs.
Japan
59. Aiming to ensure seamless meteorological satellite observation over eastern Asia and the western Pacific region, the Japan Meteorological Agency started the backup operation on 22 May 2003. At 0600 UTC on 22 May 2003, the broadcasting service of WEFAX pictures derived from GVAR data obtained with GOES-9 was initiated. At the same time, JMA began to put the S-VISSR data (IR-1 channel) derived from GVAR data on the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) Data Serving System (DSS) of JMA (instead of disseminating the S-VISSR data with GMS-5), so that the national meteorological and hydrological services registered to JMA could access the data through the Internet.
60. The broadcasting time schedule for WEFAX pictures converted from GOES-9 GVAR data is the same as that of the present GMS-5 service. Also, the S-VISSR data (IR-1) are posted on the RSMC Data Server at the same hours as in the previous schedule of the uploading of GMS-5 S-VISSR data. That is, individual users of WEFAX via GMS-5 and S-VISSR data (IR-1 channel) through the Internet from the RSMC Data Server have been able to obtain those products with the use of their facilities, without any modification. The WEFAX pictures obtained from GOES-9 during the backup operation are adjusted to those observed at 1400E above the equator, where GMS-5 is stationed.
61. The times of the Earth observations with GOES-9 and other detailed information on the backup operation are posted on the JMA web page, http://jma.go.jp/JMA_HP/jma/indexe.htmal.
62. In the GVAR signal from GOES-9, the visible and infrared spin scan radiometer atmospheric sounder (VAS) data is included. The sounding sectors and schedule can be found at the NOAA/NESDIS OSDPD Satellite Services Division web site, http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/SATS/GOES/NINE/sched.htmal. JMA requests that those who wish to receive GVAR broadcasting directly from GOES-9 to inform JMA (email: metsat@met.kishou.go.jp ) of their names and addresses (mailing address, facsimile number and email address) for reference.
63. The RSMC Tokyo Typhoon Centre has carried out analysing and predicting typhoon tracks and intensities using satellite images since May 2003 and sea surface wind vector retrieved from QuikScat observation since March 2003.
64. The launch schedule of MTSAT-1R, the successor to GMS-5, was postponed due to the launch failure of the H-IIA rocket. The plan of the launch and the operation of MTSAT-1R will be duly announced as soon as they are determined. The observation of a geostationary meteorological satellite for the GMS series service area will be continued though the operations of GMS-5, GOES-9 and MTSAT-1R without interruption.
65. JMA held the first International Training Seminar on Typhoon Monitoring and Forecasting in the Western North Pacific in Tokyo in February 2004 with four invited experts in charge of typhoon forecasting in national meteorological services in South-east Asian countries. At the seminar, the latest application techniques on satellite data and NWP model were introduced. JMA plans to hold the second seminar in February 2005.
Malaysia
66. The main application of satellite information is to monitor cloud and weather development for short-range and medium-range forecasts and warning of heavy rains that might cause floods and mudslides, which would affect the socio-economic activities of the country. During the first half of the winter monsoon, the east coast states of Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak annually experience a few episodes of moderate floods that usually last for a few days. Furthermore, the country is also faced with flash floods caused by the severe thunderstorm systems that are quite common during the inter-monsoon seasons. In recent years, Malaysia also experienced a few major weather-related disasters, such as tropical storm Greg, which hit the east Malaysian state of Sabah in December 1996; the El Nino event in 1997 and first quarter of 1998 that resulted in reduced rainfall and drought and amplified forest/peat land fires; and the storm Vamei that hit the southern part of Peninsular Malaysia in 2001. These events not only affected the socio-economic activities of the countries but also damaged property and took away precious lives. The Malaysian Meteorological Service makes use of satellite information and weather radar to provide timely advisories and warnings on impending severe disruptive weather to the relevant agencies so that effective mitigation and preventive actions can be taken to reduce loss of lives and property.
67. Data from polar orbiting satellites are used to complement the geostationary satellite data in respect to weather forecasting. Various channel combinations of the visible, short infrared and long infrared are used to obtain cloud top temperature, cloud thickness, cloud type delineation, sea surface temperature, Normalized Differential Vegetation Index, cloud top differentiation based on cloud particle size, monitoring of hotspots and trans-boundary haze, and flood monitoring.
68. Some of the application products of satellite information that MMS would like to produce in future are as follows: (a) atmospheric wind profile, to improve weather forecasting and as an input into numerical weather prediction models, (b) satellite-derived sea surface temperature for climate monitoring and fishing activities, and (c) satellite-computed accumulated rainfall so as to enhance the preparation of severe weather warnings that might cause floods. The information generated can also be used to generate a more comprehensive fire danger rating system so that the relevant agencies will be in a better position to monitor and gauge the forest fire monitoring.
Republic of Korea
69. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) receives and processes satellite data from GMS, GOES-9, FY-2B, Meteosat-5, NOAA series, and Aqua at three stations. After the termination of GMS-5, the GMS-5 mission has been replaced with GOES-9. From 22 May 2003, GOES-9 data has been operationally used in daily forecast and natural hazards monitoring. Ground reception system and analysis system for geostationary satellite data has been improved to receive GOES-9 GVAR data.
70. Aqua, formerly named EOS-PM, was launched successfully in May 2002 as a part of the NASA Earth Observing System (EOS). Aqua is focused on the multidisciplinary study of Earth's interrelated processes (atmosphere, oceans, and land surface) and their relationship to changes in the Earth system. Aqua is making critical contribution to the monitoring of terrestrial and marine ecosystems as well as global climate change research. Aqua carries six state-of-the-art instruments in near-polar low-Earth orbit. The six instruments are the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for EOS (AMSR-E), the Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), and Clouds and Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES).
71. KMA installed receiving system for data from Aqua's six sensors in September 2002 and developed the software for Aqua Level 1B data, the geographic and radiometry calibration radiation, in November 2003. Now, KMA generates normalized intensity difference data from AMSR-E level-1B data and provides it via the Internet and intranet, as well as MODIS true-colour images and MODIS fire images. KMA is also developing software for Aqua Level-2B data, including rain rate, SST, sea wind speed, and atmospheric vertical temperature and humidity. This plan will be completed at the end of this year. The software is based on algorithms developed by the Space Science and Engineering Centre (SSEC), at the University of Wisconsin. In the future, KMA will continue developing other products, such as atmospheric aerosol, cloud mask, and cloud top properties.
72. KMA has continued its efforts for better utilization of satellite data. KMA has produced real-time tropical cyclone information using GOES-9 data, and the Dvorak method is applied for its operational production. This analysis is performed every three or six hours from a typhoon's formation to its decaying stage. The central pressure, maximum wind speed, radius of storm, and gale force wind are analysed from the typhoon intensity index. To adopt the Dvorak method in operation, KMA set up a software tool named SADIS (Satellite Data Display System), which was originally developed by MSC/JMA and converted to a Korean version by METRI (Korea Meteorological Research Institution).
73. In addition to these, especially, the headquarters station of KMA has acquired QuikScat from NASA and OrbView data from other domestic organizations via FTP sites, and utilized the data in typhoon information, fire detecting, and yellow sandstorm monitoring.
74. The products generated from the above satellite data is provided via intranet to end-users. Internet service provides daily forecast and numerical models to relevant government agencies as well as to the public, research institutes, and universities. Major operational products generated are Asian dust, fog, aerosol optical thickness, fire detection, SST, and ocean wind. Meteorological satellite application areas are fog detection, typhoon monitoring, fire detection and dust storm monitoring.
75. The national space programme in the Republic of Korea intends to launch a multi-purpose geostationary satellite in 2008, named the Communication, Ocean and Meteorological Satellite (COMS), with ocean and meteorological sensors and a communication payload; the work has been progressing well in 2004 as scheduled. The feasibility study and preliminary levels were well carried out in 2003. In particular, a series of tasks for the selection of a satellite manufacturer, such as bidding, have been successfully conducted. The major meteorological missions are real-time monitoring of atmospheric condition, including early detecting of severe weather phenomena such as typhoons. The products made from the retrieved data, as well as image data from COMS, are expected to be provided to users worldwide, including Typhoon Committee members, in accordance with the LRIT/HRIT global specifications of WMO. During the period from 2004 to 2008, design, manufacturing, launching, in-orbit tests, and other testing will be carried out as scheduled. The timing of operational service will be around 2009.
Thailand
76. Meteorological geostationary satellite images and related derived products acquired via the Internet have been used intensively as part of Thailand's weather analysis. The images are used widely in identifying the areas of possible rainfall, complementing the radar monitoring. Weather warnings are issued depending on the cloud patterns found in satellite images. The images are also used in locating tropical cyclones at all stages.
77. In 2003, Thailand faced heavy floods in many areas of the country, but with no major tropical cyclone entering its territory. Nevertheless, meteorological satellite images are used effectively in forecasters' decision process. It is the availability of the images via the Internet that help improve the forecasts when no access to other information is available. The Meteorological Department is grateful to all meteorological services and educational institutions for providing free access to this unquestionably valuable information and helping reduce the risk of disasters.
78. Due to incompatibility of the receivers, particularly the data format, at present none of the satellite receiving stations is able to receive images from the GMS-5 replacement, GOES-9. The alternative Internet factor, therefore, is satisfactory for processed satellite data needs for the department's daily operation. Although NOAA images can be received by the stations, their usefulness for day-to-day operations is minimal.
G. Consideration of meteorological satellite products and services for disaster management
79. The last meeting of the RWG agreed that regional cooperation on disaster management should be enhanced to facilitate product development and operational service provision, and agreed to make it the special theme for this meeting. It was agreed that meteorological services have benefited from existing standardized products and services that should be easily accessed and shared among countries. Because of the variety of platforms, sensors, resolutions and processing capabilities, a long-running issue for disaster management authorities has been ways to obtain easy access to consistent products and services from all providers in the region.
80. Under this agenda item, preliminary deliberations were conducted on current and planned products and services of the RWG members, end-users' requirements, the need for guidance on products and services to reduce duplication, ways to provide end-users with better awareness, and possible cooperation activities on this topic.
81. The meeting agreed that the experiences of meteorological services in standardized products and services could be considered. Satellite Earth observation information has been widely used as an important tool for managing natural disasters like flooding, drought and wildfire; however, for operational services, there is a need for standardized, relevant products and services.
H. Tentative RESAP work plan for 2004-2005
82. The updated work plan for 2004 and the proposed tentative work plan for 2005 were presented to the meeting. The meeting agreed upon the tentative work plan.
I. Decision on the candidature for the Coordination Office of the Regional Working Group
83. Following the complete two term of hosting the coordination office by Korean Meteorological Administration, the representative of Malaysia, from Malaysian Meteorological Services, expressed his organization's interest in hosting the Coordination Office for the next term, 2004-2006. In order to finalize the offer, it will be further evaluated and discussed with the relevant government organs in Malaysia.
J. Venue and provisional agenda of the tenth meeting of the Regional Working Group
84. The secretariat informed the meeting of the intention of the Islamic Republic of Iran to host the tenth meeting of the Regional Working Group on Remote Sensing, GIS and Satellite-based Positioning in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The meeting requested the secretariat to explore the possibility of having its next meeting jointly with the RWG/RSGIS, with the theme on disaster management products and services, and back to back with the next ICC session.
85. In addition to the Islamic Republic of Iran's offer mentioned above, the Republic of Korea expressed its interest in hosting either the 2006 or 2007 meeting in conjunction with an international training programme that KMA had undertaken. The offer will be further evaluated and discussed with the relevant government organs.
86. The meeting agreed that the provisional agenda of its next meeting would be more comprehensive and attractive for potential participants. In this way the meeting is hoping to increase participation in the future meetings.
K. Other matters
87. No other matter was discussed.
L. Adoption of the report
88. The meeting examined and adopted the report of the ninth meeting of the Regional Working Group on Meteorological Satellite Applications and Natural Hazards Monitoring on 20 October 2004.
89. The meeting expressed its sincere appreciation to ISRO for organizing, hosting and providing the valuable time of its staff for the success of the meeting and for the utmost hospitality shown to all participants.
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
INDIA
Mr V.S. Hegde, Associate Programme Director, Disaster Management Support (DMS) Programme, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) HQ, New BEL Road, Bangalore - 560 094. Tel.: +91-80-2341-2471, fax: +91-80-2341-3806, email: vshegde@isro.org
Mr M. V. Krishna Rao, Head, Crop Inventory and Drought Assessment Division, National Remote Sensing Agency, Department of Space, Government of India, Balanagar, Hyderabad - 500 037 (A.P.). Tel.: +90-40-2388-4216, fax: +90-40-2387-9677, email: krishnarao_mv@nrsa.gov.in
Mr Sanjay K. Srivastava, Deputy Project Director, Disaster Management Support (DMS) Programme, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) HQ, New Bell Road, Bangalore - 560 094. Tel.: +91-80-2117-2455, fax: +91-80-2341-3806, email: sanjay@isro.org
JAPAN
Mr Ryuji Yamada, Section Chief, Office of International Affairs, Planning Division, Administration Department, Japan Meteorological Agency, 1-3-4 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8122. Tel.: +81-3-3211-4966, fax: +81-3-3211-2032, email: r_yamada@met.kishou.go.jp
MALAYSIA
Mr Kang Thean Shong, Director, Central Forecast Office, Malaysian Meteorological Service, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Jalan Sultan, 46667 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Tel.: +603-7967-8118, fax: +603-7957-8052, email: kang@kjc.gov.my
REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Ms PARK Jong-Seo, Senior Researcher, Remote Sensing Division, Korea Meteorological Administration, 460-18, Shidaebang-dong, Dongzak-gu, 156-720 Seoul. Tel.: +82-2-841-7043, fax: +81-2-841-7045, email: jspark@kma.go.kr
THAILAND
Mr Songkran Agsorn, Director, Meteorological Instruments Division, Thai Meteorological Department, 4353 Sukhumvit Road, Bang-na, Bangkok 10260. Tel.: +66-2-393-1681; fax: +66-2-393-2628, email: agsorn@yahoo.com
OTHER ENTITIES
Mr Glenn Dolcemascolo, Regional Liaison - Pacific Disaster Centre, Pacific Disaster Centre, Noble House, Room 12/86, Phayathai Road, Rajatevi, Bangkok 10400. Tel.: +66-1-170-9019, email: glennd@pdc.org
ESCAP SECRETARIAT
Mr XUAN Zengpei Chief, Information, Communication and Space Technology Division, United Nations Building, Rajadamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok 10200. Tel.: +66-2-288-1466, fax: +66-2-288-1085, email: xuan@un.org
Mr WU Guoxiang Chief, Space Technology Applications Section, Information, Communication and Space Technology Division, United Nations Building, Rajadamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok 10200. Tel.: +66-2-288-1456, fax: +66-2-288-3012, email: wugu@un.org
Mr Cihat Basocak GIS Officer, Space Technology Applications Section, Information Communication and Space Technology Division, United Nations Building, Rajadamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok 10200. Tel.: +66-2-288-1523, fax: +66-2-288-3012, email: basocak.unescap@un.org
