Japan to launch climate research satellite in December

Japan will launch a climate research satellite in December to analyze and forecast global warming-linked environmental changes, the science ministry said Friday. The satellite, named Shikisai, will be placed in orbit 800 kilometers above the ground from where it will conduct long-term monitoring of cloud cover, levels of dust and aerosols in the atmosphere as well as ocean color, vegetation, snow and ice cover on the earth's surface. More

(Source: Kyodo News Plus - Oct 28)