GCOM-W "SHIZUKU" Sea-Ice Watch (JAXA)
JAXA's SHIZUKU satellite, launched in 2012, measures sea ice, rain, snow and sea temperature through clouds, day and night (JAXA).
Image: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (MODIS on Aqua, sea ice in the Greenland Sea).
Last reviewed: 2 sources cited
A spinning 2-metre antenna has watched the Arctic sea ice for more than a decade.
SHIZUKU's AMSR2 sensor can observe over 99% of Earth's area in just two days (JAXA).
Source: JAXA, GCOM-W "SHIZUKU"
Explain Like I'm 10
- Sea ice is frozen ocean water that floats around the North and South Poles.
- SHIZUKU is a Japanese satellite with a big spinning antenna that "hears" faint microwaves from Earth.
- Those signals show where the ice is, even through clouds and in the dark polar winter.
The Five W's of SHIZUKU
What
A satellite carrying AMSR2, a microwave radiometer that measures precipitation, water vapour, sea temperature, snow depth and sea ice.
Source: JAXA, GCOM-W "SHIZUKU"
When
Launched on 18 May 2012 on an H-IIA rocket from Tanegashima Space Center.
Source: JAXA, GCOM-W "SHIZUKU"
Where
In The curved path an object takes as it travels around a planet, moon or star, like a satellite circling Earth. Glossary, covering the whole planet, including both polar regions.
Source: JAXA, GCOM-W "SHIZUKU"
Why
Long, steady records of sea ice and water show how the climate is changing.
Source: JAXA, GCOM-W "SHIZUKU"
Connected Solutions
- GOSAT-GW (JAXA) Carries the next AMSR sensor alongside greenhouse gas instruments.
Impact Statement
Agency solution · active
In August 2012, SHIZUKU recorded Arctic sea ice at 4.21 million km², below the previous record low of 4.25 million km² set in 2007 (JAXA).
Source: JAXA, Arctic sea ice extent smallest in observation history (Aug. 2012)
For Further Information: JAXA, Arctic sea ice extent smallest in observation history (Aug. 2012)
AMSR2's antenna is about 2 metres across, the world's largest observation sensor on a satellite (JAXA).
How This Saves People & the Planet
For People
SHIZUKU data on rain, water vapour and sea temperature support weather and water information people use (JAXA).
Source: JAXA, GCOM-W "SHIZUKU"
For Nature
Tracking sea ice shows how the Arctic Ocean's frozen cover is changing from year to year (JAXA).
Source: JAXA, Arctic sea ice extent smallest in observation history (Aug. 2012)
Learn More About SHIZUKU
Want to go deeper? JAXA has the full mission story.
For Further InformationRelated Solutions
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