Dr. Mitsuhiko Hatori, Director General
Japan Meteorological Agency
1-3-4 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 100-8122, Japan

Dear Dr. Hatori,

We would like to express appreciation for the excellent cooperation between the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and the NOAA Satellite and Information Service (NESDIS) in meteorological satellite activities.

I would like to refer to discussions at our high-level NESDIS-JMA meetings during 2010 concerning mutual interest in continued exchange of information on various aspects of planning for our respective advanced geostationary meteorological satellite programs. JMA and NESDIS are each planning to fly advanced imagers on our respective next generation geostationary meteorological satellites. NESDIS and JMA have a mutual interest in the compatibility of data from these systems to enable use of the data by users worldwide.

In this connection, and based on interests that have been discussed by our staffs, we would like to propose that JMA and NESDIS exchange information related to our respective next generation geostationary meteorological satellite programs. This would facilitate development of our respective imager calibration and science algorithm activities. The information to be exchanged would be limited to information that is not subject to International Traffic in Arms restrictions. Sharing of information could help each of our agencies develop science algorithms and plan imager calibration and validation efforts that will enhance the usefulness of data from the two programs to users. Some specific categories of information and methods for sharing information are outlined in the attachment to this letter. Should we later decide that we want to pursue specific collaborative efforts in this area, those joint efforts would be undertaken pursuant to subsequent arrangements.

If this proposal is of interest to JMA, we propose that this letter together with your affirmative response confirm our understanding on this matter.

Sincerely,

Mary E. Kicza
Assistant Administrator for Satellite and Information Services
ATTACHMENT

Non-ITAR Information that may be exchanged

• Information on system development status and data product and data dissemination planning for the NOAA GOES-R Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) and JMA Himawari-8/9 Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI).

• Information on advanced imager calibration and imager navigation and registration techniques.

• Information on algorithms that is relevant to enhancing development of meteorological parameters expected to be generated from JMA and NESDIS imager data and inter-calibration of data from JMA and NESDIS imagers.

Methods for Exchange of Information

• Continue to arrange for JMA experts to visit NESDIS, and for NESDIS experts to visit JMA, as may be agreed, to study and exchange information on geostationary meteorological satellite related techniques, such as calibration and validation and science algorithms. The travel and subsistence costs for these visiting experts will in general be funded by the sending organization.

• Hold regular meetings, which may include telephone meetings, in order to exchange program updates and information on our respective geostationary satellite programs.
Our reference: JMA12/A3/040

Ms. Mary E. KICZA
Assistant Administrator for Satellite and Information Services
NOAA/NESDIS
1335 East-West Highway
Room 8338, Silver Spring, MD 20910
United States of America

Dear Ms. Kicza,

I wish to refer to your letter dated 30 January 2012 regarding the proposal on exchange of information between the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and the NOAA Satellite and Information Service (NESDIS) related to our respective next generation geostationary meteorological satellite programs.

I would like to express my appreciation for your proposal. I am grateful to you for the NESDIS-JMA cooperation for more than 30 years on continuous observation from geostationary meteorological satellites that cover the Pacific Ocean. The proposal would facilitate the development of advanced imager calibration techniques and science algorithms for our next generation imagers, and would expand our long cooperation on meteorological satellites. In addition, this cooperative activity would be beneficial to the data users around the world since it would be helpful to achieve consistent products from our meteorological satellites.

Therefore, I fully agree with the proposal. I look forward to further strengthening our solid relationship in the field of meteorological satellites.

Yours sincerely,

(Mitsuhiko HATORI)
Director-General of JMA