Jan. 20 (Bloomberg) -- The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency plans to launch a satellite in two days to measure greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere as nations seek better data on the evolution of global warming.

The Greenhouse-Gases Observing Satellite, or Gosat, will be lofted from the Tanegashima Space Center in southwestern Japan shortly after noon local time on Jan. 22, the agency said today in a statement on its Web site.

Scientists are increasingly called upon by governments to predict the effects of global warming, such as higher sea levels caused by polar ice melting and ocean water expanding as it warms. Climate models suggest oceans will rise at significantly higher rates this century than in the last, according to study released last week by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Japan to Launch Satellite to Measure Global Warming