Abstract
Himawari-8, the next-generation geostationary meteorological satellite, was launched on 7 October 2014, and began operation on 7 July 2015. Highly improved sensor AHI (Advanced Himawari Imager) loaded on the satellite has 16 observation bands (3 for visible, 3 for near-infrared and 10 for far infrared), 2.5 minutes observation interval for the whole area of Japan and better spatial resolution than that of former Himawari-6 and -7 sensor systems. Some of observation bands are similar with the ones of Landsat/TM. Therefore, it is possible to observe the land-cover condition by visible and near infra-red data and the Earth surface temperature by thermal infrared data.
This study visualizes and quantifies the heat island phenomenon by evaluating the daily variation in urban area thermal environments. Himawari-8 data are analyzed using surface trend analysis from a macroscopic point of view. Statistical values such as population and power consumption, which cause the heat island phenomenon, tend to be related to increased temperatures at noon, as well as to the remaining increased temperature in the evening. It is difficult to explain the phenomenon using only statistical values of human activities because it is also influenced by a city's location (latitude) and the surrounding land cover situation.
