Himawari (satellites)

The Himawari series are a group of Japanese geostationary meteorological satellites operated by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). The name "Himawari" is Japanese for "sunflower."

The satellites are positioned in geostationary orbit over the Western Pacific Ocean, providing continuous and high-resolution imagery of East Asia, Australia, and the surrounding regions. This data is crucial for weather forecasting, disaster monitoring, and climate research.

The first Himawari satellite, Himawari-1, was launched in 1977. Subsequent generations of Himawari satellites have incorporated improved instrumentation and capabilities. The current generation, Himawari-8 and Himawari-9, feature advanced imagers that capture more detailed and frequent observations across a wider range of spectral bands compared to their predecessors.

The data collected by the Himawari satellites is made available to meteorological organizations and researchers worldwide, contributing significantly to regional and global weather monitoring efforts. These satellites play a vital role in tracking typhoons, monitoring cloud cover, assessing volcanic ash plumes, and studying other meteorological phenomena. They are a key component of the global network of geostationary weather satellites.