The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) is a joint venture by
CRL, NASDA and NASA and has been conducting observations on schedule. On
November 28, 2000, we cerebrate the third anniversary of the mission
launch. This mission using the Precipitation Radar (PR) will be the
first spaceborne rain radar and observes water cycle three-dimensional
process. TRMM regularly obtains good scientific results such as
three-dimensional quantitative rain observations over ocean and land,
quantitative understanding of rain distribution in tropical areas with
annual changes such as El Nino, and global soil wetness estimated by a
satellite sensor for the first time. It also contributes to improving
the accuracy of weather forecasts by four-dimensional data assimilation.
This symposium will be held to recognize these results and future
prospects for rain observation.
Symposium commemorating the third anniversary of the launch
of the TRMM satellite
1. Welcome greetings
13:30 - 14:00
Opening remarks:
Mr. Shuichiro Yamanouchi (President, NASDA)
Mr. Akio Yuki (Director-General, Research and Development Bureau,
Science and Technology Agency)
Mr. Seiji Tanaka (Deputy Vice-Minister for Technology Policy
Coordination, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications)
2. Keynote speech
14:00 - 14:25
Dr. Yoji Furuhama (Executive
Director, NASDA)
Significance of the accomplishment of the TRMM mission
-- its technological achievements --
14:25 - 14:50
Dr. Ghassem R. Asrar (Associate
Administrator, NASA)
NASA's Earth Observation Plans (MTPE) and the TRMM
-- crystal of US-Japan collaboration --
14:50 - 15:20
break
3. Science achieved and future plans
15:20 - 15:50
Dr. Tetsuo Nakazawa (Japan TRMM
project scientist, Meteorological Research Institute)
New development in tropical meteorology pioneered by TRMM
15:50 - 16:20
Dr. Robert F. Adler (US TRMM
project scientist, NASA)
TRMM -- A great step toward understanding Earth's water and energy
cycles
16:20 - 16:40
Prof. Kenji Nakamura (Japan ATMOS-A
project scientist, Nagoya University)
Precipitation Observation Technological Satellite (ATMOS-A)
-- global precipitation observation with dual frequency radar --
16:40 - 17:00
Prof. Eric A. Smith (US GPM
project scientist, Florida State University, NASA)
Global Precipitation Mission by international cooperation
-- Strategy in the US --