Media Coverage of AMATERASS and Related Research

This coverage reports on a study that analyzed the spatiotemporal variability of solar irradiance across the Asia-Pacific region using long-term satellite-derived irradiance data. The study quantified regional differences in variability and examined how fluctuations between geographically separated areas correlate or offset one another, revealing the spatial heterogeneity of the solar resource. It also compared these characteristics with the distribution of approximately 1,900 existing photovoltaic power plants and considered how spatiotemporal variability could inform the spatial deployment and broader use of solar power. Following its release on EurekAlert!, the study was covered by numerous international science, photovoltaic, environmental, and energy media outlets.

This coverage describes an international collaborative study that used high-frequency observations to analyze vegetation changes in the frequently cloud-covered Amazon rainforest. During development of the NASA GeoNEX Level 1G product, Geolocation Correction was applied to GOES-16 observations, extending the satellite-data processing work toward Earth-environment monitoring. Analysis of 2018 observations revealed broad seasonal variations in vegetation indices that had been difficult to capture with conventional polar-orbiting satellites, including regional tendencies toward increased vegetation activity during the dry season. The work combined the high observation frequency of a geostationary meteorological satellite with high-accuracy geolocation correction.

This article from the National Institute for Environmental Studies reports on the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Award at the 4th Space Development and Utilization Grand Prize, received for the “Real-time Himawari Data Visualization Application Using Advanced Information and Communications Technology,” jointly developed by the NPO Solar Radiation Consortium, NICT, and Weathernews. It explains the AMATERASS solar-irradiance analysis provided through the consortium, including its radiative-transfer-based methodology, the quasi-real-time solar-irradiance and photovoltaic-output products, and the history of its development. The article also describes the award-winning application, which combines AMATERASS data with NICT high-speed data-transfer and visualization technologies, and discusses its social applications.

This Mainichi “Himawari EYE” article covers research using Himawari-8 observations to track airborne particles such as Asian dust and PM2.5 transported from East Asia toward Japan. High-frequency, multispectral satellite observations were used to analyze aerosol distributions and transport over broad areas, including ocean regions with few ground stations, allowing transboundary air pollution to be followed continuously. REAP was operated within the AMATERASS processing environment for this analysis, illustrating an environmental-monitoring application of geostationary meteorological satellite data.

This article reports on the use of AMATERASS quasi-real-time solar-irradiance data, derived from geostationary Himawari observations, to support a solar car in the World Solar Challenge across Australia. Solar-irradiance information along the route was continuously provided to the Tokai University solar-car team and used in driving decisions based on expected photovoltaic generation and charging conditions. It is an example of AMATERASS quasi-real-time analysis being used directly in field operations rather than solely as a research dataset.

This coverage reports on research estimating surface solar irradiance over a wide area from observations by the Himawari geostationary meteorological satellite and using the resulting information to estimate and forecast photovoltaic power output. Solar irradiance was calculated rapidly while accounting for the reflection and scattering of light by clouds and the atmosphere, and the estimates were evaluated against measurements from photovoltaic facilities. The research also examined the use of cloud movement and changes in irradiance to anticipate power generation several hours ahead, documenting a stage in the development of AMATERASS as its applications expanded into the photovoltaic-energy field.

JSTnews, the research-outreach magazine of the Japan Science and Technology Agency, featured research linking satellite-based cloud and solar-irradiance analysis with photovoltaic power and energy management. The article opens with the World Solar Challenge 2013, where solar-irradiance information was supplied to the Tokai University team every 30 minutes and used to guide driving and charging decisions. It then traces the research from satellite analysis of cloud physical properties and solar-irradiance estimation to distributed cooperative energy management for stable use of renewable energy, and includes the operational solar-irradiance analysis system that developed into AMATERASS.