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Wind retrieval from Japanese Earth Resources Satellite-1 (JERS-1) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) using an L-band model function in coastal regions is evaluated. It is known that JERS-1 SAR has excessive ambiguities. This paper also gives a quantitative evaluation of excessive ambiguities in coastal scenes of JERS-1 SAR. First, focusing on the cases where wind blows from the shore in Sagami Bay, we investigate phenomena of wind speed increase with offshore distance using European Remote sensing Satellite-1 (ERS-1) SAR-derived wind speeds. The relation between wind speed and offshore distance is well formulated, which indicates the transition of the atmospheric boundary layer from land to sea surface. Wind speeds derived from JERS-1 SAR should be overestimated due to the excessive ambiguity. Then, for observation time of each JERS-1 SAR capturing the cases that wind blows from the shore in Sagami Bay, the expected wind speed growth profile is derived from the wind speed growth formula and an in situ wind observation of Hiratsuka Experiment Station. We convert the wind-speed profile into the sigma-0 profile by an L-band model function. Finally, the profiles of JERS-1 SAR-observed and the estimated sigma-0 are compared, and the excessive ambiguity is estimated as the difference between them. As a result, the dynamic range of first azimuth ambiguity is as large as that of the wind-relating signal from the ocean surface. Moreover, higher order azimuth ambiguities and range ambiguity also may have a significant impact on near-shore wind retrieval. Ambiguities, Japanese Earth Resources Satellite-1 (JERS-1) synthetic aperture radar (SAR), L-band model function, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) wind retrieval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the results of lightning current measurement on transmission lines in Japan. Publication of the characteristics of lightning current amplitude in papers written on the issue; Methods used for conducting field investigations of lightning current in Japan; Results of lightning current measurement using magnetic links on transmission lines.

The article profiles Abbas Jamalipour, candidate for member-at-large of the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers Inc. (IEEE) Communications Society. Jamalipour has been an educator at the Sydney University in Australia since 1998 and obtained his doctorate degreee from Nagoya University in Japan. He has written and co-authored seven books and holds two patents. He used to be the chair of Satellite & Space Communications from 2004-2006. Among the position statement of Jamalipour notes that he will promote a fast and fair review processing system for the publication of papers.

A Japanese firm has taken computer technology into new areas of human activity by developing a complex, computer-controlled toilet system. The $5,000 Neorest toilet from Toto automatically raises and lowers the seat as needed, flushes the bowl, deodorizes the air and cleans itself. The system also provides controls for heating the toilet seat and even replaces toilet paper with a bidet-like water sprayer and dryer, called a personal cleansing system. The toilet is powered by a 128-kilobyte ROM chip with separate RAM chips, offering a total of 512 kilobytes of memory, located in a motherboard in the seat.