Remote Sensing activities in Mongolia
M. Badarch
Director of National Remote Sensing Center
State committee for Nature and Environmental Control
Ulaabaatar, Mongolia
Abstract
This paper reviews the general status of Remote Sensing in Mongolia. One of the major goals of the Mongolia space programme is the use of Remote Sensing for the socio-economic of the country. During the past ten years, Remote Sensing applications have grown from pilot experimental studies to operational methodologies. These applications are being used for routine mapping, monitoring and evaluation of the various natural resources and environment monitoring in the country such as water, forests, meteorology, agriculture, soils, minerals and lake resources. Remote Sensing as an operational, stable and cost effective technology for the assessment of natural resources, for disaster monitoring considerably contributes to the economic development of the Mongolia.
This article highlights the needs and Remote Sensing program in Mongolia.
Introduction
Remote Sensing technology is one of the fastest growing information technologies in the Mongolia. Since the beginning 1980s, many organization of the Mongolia have attached great importance to the development of Remote Sensing technology and applications. At present one full-fledged national Remote Sensing center and several Remote Sensing sub-centre were established in the Mongolia and one Remote Sensing receiving station is operating. Several projects related to Remote Sensing applications have been implemented in fast few years. Commendable progress has since have made.
1. Needs of Remote Sensing Data applications in Mongolia
Mongolia is situated in Central Asia; it stretches form West to East 2400 km, and 1260 km from North to South. Its are is 1.565 thousand square kilometers. Its removed from the seas and oceans. Different regions of the country differ considerably from each other by structure of relief, elevation. The medium elevation of the country’s territory is 1580 m. above the sea level, with the highest mountain summits reaching 4362 m. The lowest area in Mongolia is 552m. The vast mountain systems are placing on the territory of Mongolia, such as the Mongolian and Gobi Altai, Khangai, Khentei and others.
In Mongolia there are nearly 540 rivers and 3000 lakes, but they are situated in the whole in the north half of the country.
Such physiographic traits of Mongolia determine the severe nature, sharp continental climate and frequently unfavorable weather conditions.
It is known that the large –scale land and atmospheric processes over this region (the Gobi-Desert, Tibetian Plateau) play a significant role in the global atmospheric circulation. Dust storms transporting a considerable amount of dust particles east and south-eastwards also create a problem for Mongolia. Also urban and industrial development in the country.
The country has extensive natural resources, minerals, fossil fuels, forests has extensive and vast areas of grassland, much of which is suitable for raising livestock. As yet, the major portion of these resources is untapped. Over the next two decades the Mongolian Government plans to develop the capability to utilize these resources. To do this it will require much improved environmental database, especially in support of formulating and implementing plans for agriculture and livestock breeding, farming and of the day to day operations. The Mongolia has therefore, examined two possible methods of increasing the database: increasing the surface observing system and using new observation techniques. (Space and automatic equipment).
An expansion of the surface observing network into unpopulated areas would be a long and difficult undertaking considering the scales of variations which have to be detected and measured. Such an increase would also impact unfavorably on the country’s limited human resources base. The advent of Remote Sensing data offers a solution to this information gap.
Consequently, Mongolia attaches great importance to the development of Remote Sensing technology and values and applying them to national economic development and environment management. Therefore, the Government of the Mongolia has made it a priority to develop Remote Sensing technology and its application to the different braches of the national economy.
In 1968, the Government of Mongolia began cooperative efforts to establish ground receiving stations for telecommunications and weather satellites in Mongolia.
Since, the establishment of Tetesat Receiving station in Mongolia in 1969, we have extended telephone and television services throughout Mongolia. Telecommunication agency of Mongolia now uses space technology for International telecommunication and television services between the Mongolia and other countries of the world through the earth satellite ground station. This system now will be improved by support from the government of Japan.
Since 1971, we have operated a Meteorological satellite receiving station. Cloud pictures of weather over the Central Asia from United State and former Soviet Union’s meteorological satellites improved forecasting greatly.
According to the agreement of the governments of the Mongolia and former Soviet Union in 1984 in East-Southern part of Mongolia was established a Meteorological Rocket Sounding station which is operating until now successful.
