HY-1A, China's first marine
satellite, has sent back data on ocean color, water temperatures
and coastal zones since it was launched in May last
year.
"The satellite is working well after
it was delivered to our bureau on Sept. 18 last year," said Wang
Shuguang, director of the National Bureau of Oceanography, at a
press conference in Beijing Sunday.
Since September last year, the
satellite has monitored large sea areas of China, the Pacific,
Indian, Atlantic and Arctic oceans, as well as the North and South
poles, he said, adding that a large number of remote sensing images
on water color have been obtained.
Meanwhile, the satellite monitored
many marine disasters, including red tides along China's
coast.
As part of the marine environment
monitoring system, the satellite has also played an important role
in curbing marine pollution and boosting the marine economy, he
said.
Developed by the Chinese Institute of
Space Technology, the satellite was launched from the Taiyuan
Satellite Launch Center, in north China's Shanxi
Province, on May 15, 2002.
China will develop a series of marine
satellites after the HY-1A.They will have three major functions --
to inspect color changes in sea water, monitor the dynamics of the
ocean environment and general surveillance of the ocean
environment.
(Xinhua News Agency?September
29, 2003)