GCOM mission concept

Abstract

Global Change Observation Mission (GCOM) is a follow on mission of ADEOS, ADEOS2 and TRMM. It is under phase A study in NASDA. GCOM is not a series of satellites but a mission and its concept is to continuously monitor geophysical parameters which are critical to understand global change phenomena, especially phenomena related to climate change. Those parameters include, but not limited to, optical thickness of aerosols and clouds, water and energy fluxes, carbon fluxes, sink and source of greenhouse gases, atmospheric constituents, etc. The measurements of geophysical parameters will continue more than 15 years after the launch of ADEOS2. The first generation satellites of GCOM after ADEOS2 is now composed of 3 satellites, i.e. GCOM-A1, GCOM-B1, and GPM core satellite. The follow on satellites of ADEOS2 is divided into 2 satellites, i.e. GCOM-A1 and GCOM-B1. The target of GCOM-A1 is to monitor stratospheric and upper tropospheric greenhouse gases distribution and ozone as well as ozone related constituents. The target of GCOM-B1 is to measure geophysical parameters which are uncertain in the today's climate models. GPM core satellite is a follow on of TRMM and the target of GPM core satellite is to measure precipitation. GCOM-A1 will carry 3 instruments, i.e. OPUS (Ozone and Pollution Ultra-violet Sounder : TOMS follow on), SOFIS (Solar Occultation Fourier Interferometric Sounder : ILAS follow on), and SWIFT (Stratospheric Wind Interferometer : stratospheric wind sensor). GCOM-B1 will carry three core instruments, i.e. SGLI (GLI follow on ), AMSR2 (AMSR follow on), alpha-Scat (SeaWinds follow on). GPM core satellite will carry 2 instruments, i.e. DPR (Dual Precipitation Radar: PR follow on) and a microwave radiometer.