The Meteorological Agency on Tuesday returned to using its own satellite for weather observations for the first time in two years, using the multifunction transport satellite Himawari No. 6 that was launched in February.
Japan had been using the U.S. satellite GOES-9 since May 2003, when the Himawari No. 5 satellite was shut down.
Japan attempted to replace the Himawari No. 5 in 1999 with a multifunction satellite, but the launch failed.
The Himawari No. 6 provides visual images to meteorological organizations in 26 Asian and Western Pacific countries and territories.
As observations will be conducted more frequently, the accuracy of weather observations during typhoons and heavy rain is expected to improve, agency officials said.
Visual images will be more precise as the number of pixels is 130 million, compared with the Himawari No. 5's 80 million pixels.
The improved sensors will also enable the new satellite to observe fog at night and low clouds, they said.
The agency plans to continue weather observations using GOES-9 until they confirm the reliability of the Himawari No. 6 in mid-July.
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