* Astronomy

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RE: Fengyun-2C

Blobrana · L

The Chinese Fengyun-2 C satellite that has recently been put into service will help monitor Chinas approaching flood season.
The Fengyun-2 C, is a synchronous meteorological satellite designed, manufactured and launched by China itself.

It became operational on June 1 2005 , and played a significant role in monitoring the cloud and ground situation in flood areas in south China, said It is capable of sending back clear nephograms and high-quality photos which will help provide a better effective meteorological service.

"Fengyun-2 C has monitored heavy rainstorms and ensuing waterlog in south China," - Yangjun, director of the National Meteorological Satellite Centre under the China Meteorological Administration. .

Fengyun-2 C is scheduled to start collecting and sending back information related to rainfall, wind and clouds non-stop after June 15 and will be focused on the monitoring of items including typhoons, precipitation, fire, drought, fog, snow and hail.

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Errors in short-term weather forecasting will be greatly reduced when a new Shanghai-made meteorological satellite is put into formal use next month.
The Fengyun-2C satellite was launched last October as China's first international-quality satellite. The weather monitor has been in orbiting on a trial basis over Malaysia since its launch.

"The new satellite will greatly increase the accuracy of short-term weather reporting for Shanghai and other Chinese cities." - Zhou Hongmei, senior engineer at Shanghai Meteorological Bureau.

Scientists explained that some erroneous short-term weather forecasts are caused when satellite-produced cloud maps lack the requisite clarity.

The 1.38-ton satellite, developed by the Shanghai Institute of Space Flight Technology, has an observation range covering one-third of the Earth's surface. It is equipped with five monitoring channels - two more than its predecessor.

"With two new channels added to its scanning array, the new satellite is capable of capturing more detailed environmental changes." - Zhou Hongmei.
It will send back better meteorological maps to improve weather forecasting.
The newly added infrared observation and visible-light channels will enable the FY2C to calculate the size of water drops atop cloud layers and better monitor the surface temperature of sea water.
It can also monitor changes in solar and space particle radiation.

China will launch the Fengyun-2D, a more advanced orbiter, in August 2007.
"By that time, the city's weather report will become much more accurate." - Chen Guilin, a researcher at the Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics who participated in the satellite project.
In addition to the Fengyun-2D, several other weather satellites will be launched in the coming years.

(Source: Shanghai Daily)