Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite

The Green House Gases Observing Satellite ( GOSAT ), also known as Japanese Ibuki (いぶき, dt " breath, breath ") is an Earth observation satellite and the first satellite to be used for monitoring of greenhouse gases. It measures the distribution of carbon dioxide and methane at 56,000 points on the Earth's atmosphere. GOSAT was designed by the Japanese Space Agency JAXA Tanegashima Space Center and started from with an H- IIA on 23 January 2009. So far there are only 282 land-based CO2 measurement points (October 2008), of which the largest number located in the USA, Europe or other developed countries.

The measurements are carried out with the TANSO meter. TANSO stands for "Thermal and Near infrared Sensor for Carbon Observation ". The meter consists of the modules TANSO - FTS and CAI - TANSO. FTS stands for Fourier Transform Spectrometer, CAI stands for cloud and aerosol imager.

The working based on the Michelson interferometer TANSO FTS allows, via spectral measurements on four frequency bands, to determine the concentration of the greenhouse gases CO2, CH4 and H2O.

With the help of TENSO -CAI thickness and coverage are determined by clouds and aerosols in order to eliminate measurement error of the TANSO - FTS.

For Ibuki a service life of 5 years is planned.