The Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite "GOSAT" (nicknamed “IBUKI”) was successfully launched on January 23, 2009 and it has since been in operation to observe greenhouse gases.

As part of the GOSAT Project, RAs have to date been issued ten times, and many promising research outcomes have been reported from the RA researchers. Aiming to facilitate scientific use of the GOSAT data by creative researchers with new perspectives, the promoters of the GOSAT Project, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), and the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) (hereinafter “the Three Parties”), invite research proposals for the RAs at any time during the project period.1 We encourage you to submit your applications and original research proposals.

NOTE : The 11th Research Announcement is closed.

1 Although applications are always being accepted, deadlines for review and selection by the GOSAT RA Selection and Evaluation Committee are set at regular intervals. Described here is the 11th RA, and its schedule is shown at the bottom of this announcement.

Research proposals are welcomed for any of the following five topics:

This announcement is open to all countries and nationalities, and is no way limited to Japanese nationals or those affiliated with Japanese institutions. All individual researchers, organizations, research institutes, private companies, and governmental bodies who are willing to use the GOSAT data for non-profit and peaceful purposes are qualified to submit proposals to the current RA. Proposals should be prepared either in English or Japanese.

Once your proposal has been accepted, you will be registered as an RA user and granted the several permissions listed below:

1. To submit GOSAT observation requests to implement your research objectives.
2. To request the delivery of standard products at no cost, prior to their release to general users.
3. To request the delivery of research products2 for the RA research at no cost.
4. To request the delivery of FTS SWIR L2 data products to which less screening criteria are applied than the standard products and obtain these at no cost.
5. To request to process FTS SWIR L2 data products without any screening criteria of the data quality, which were not generated. In making such a request, researchers are asked to check browse images of CAI and confirm that there is no cloud within the field of view of FTS. The request will be accepted only when those data are necessary for the RA research.
6. To obtain additional information of the FTS SWIR L2 data products (column abundances of CO2, CH4, and H2O (SWIR)), so-called “sub-datasets” of the FTS L2 data products, if they are necessary for the RA research.
7. To participate in the GOSAT RA PI Meeting (closed meeting), which will be hosted by the Three Parties.
8. To download a large volume of data products via the NIES FTP site.

2 Research products are not released to general users.

All submitted proposals will be evaluated by the GOSAT RA Selection and Evaluation Committee designated by the Three Parties.

Please read the following RA documents for details. When you apply for the RA, please send the completed appendix D, the “Contents of Research Proposal and Application Form” to the GOSAT RA Office () via e-mail.