CoAuthors

Norimasa Ito (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Japan); JAXA COMPIRA team (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Japan)

COMPIRA (Coastal and Ocean Measurement mission with Precise and Innovative Radar Altimeter) is a new Japanese altimetry mission by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). A wide-swath altimeter, SHIOSAI (SAR Height Imaging Oceanic Sensor with Advanced Interferometry), will be used to obtain sea surface height data with 80 km swath in left and right swath and 5 km resolution. Moreover, COMPIRA mission is designed to maximize coverage around mid-latitude region, with 10 days orbit repeat cycle, 51 degrees inclination, and adoption of X-band radar interferometer to reduce rain attenuation. With higher coverage of COMPIRA data, reduction of errors in the tidal model in coastal area and shallow marginal seas will be anticipated.
COMPIRA data are expected to be used for efficiency of fishery and improvement of ocean current forecast. Moreover, we are discussing how to maximize scientific outcomes. We established "Science team", and we have discussed the main scientific targets and have summarized "Science White Paper". Especially, we aim at following three main topics; regional sea-level rise phenomena including Japanese coastal area, meso- and sub-mesoscale phenomena, and improvement of maritime forecast especially in coastal region. We are currently discussing plans to conduct activities and studies including pre- and post-launch validation.
We also conducted aircraft experiments of the sea surface height measurement with an X-band airborne interferometric SAR over the Kuroshio current. Data obtained by airborne SAR and Jason-2 are currently investigated and compared.
In the presentation, we will show current status of COMPIRA-related studies and activities.