The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and the Japan Meteorological Agency announced on September 2, 2026, that JMA would begin using observations from the AMSR3 microwave radiometer aboard GOSAT-GW in operational numerical weather prediction on September 8. GOSAT-GW, launched in 2025, operates in polar orbit. AMSR3 observes the Earth's surface and atmosphere across multiple microwave bands, providing information on sea-surface temperature, water vapour, clouds, precipitation, and sea ice. JMA had already been using AMSR3 for sea-surface-temperature and sea-ice analyses; adding the data to numerical prediction brings those observations into its operational forecast workflow. The official release was published on September 2, while operational use began on September 8. This article does not treat operational adoption as completion of every in-orbit validation activity or claim a quantified forecast improvement that the cited release does not provide.
International space · Space technology
Japan Meteorological Agency Begins Operational Use of AMSR3 Data
JAXA and the Japan Meteorological Agency announced that AMSR3 microwave-radiometer observations from the GOSAT-GW satellite would enter operational numerical weather prediction on September 8, supporting analyses of sea-surface temperature, water vapour, clouds, precipitation, and sea ice.
Earth observationWeather satellites
Related launch missions
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