SPAGYRIC HERBALISM

Natural products used as disinfectants in prosthodontics and oral implantology

Xia & He Publishing Inc.

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Natural products such as propolis, EGCG, and clove oil show significant promise as effective disinfectants in prosthodontics and oral implantology due to their biocompatibility and reduced side effects compared to synthetic agents. To facilitate their clinical adoption, standardized protocols for compound extraction and formulation must be established. Rigorous Phase II and III clinical trials focusing on peri-implantitis management are essential to validate their efficacy and safety. Collaboration with regulatory agencies is crucial for enabling OTC approval. These targeted measures will support the integration of natural disinfectants into mainstream dental practice, offering safer and more environmentally sustainable alternatives for infection control.

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Credit: Rama Krishna Alla

Infection control is paramount in prosthodontics and oral implantology to prevent complications like denture stomatitis and peri-implantitis. While synthetic disinfectants (e.g., chlorhexidine) are widely used, their side effects—including mucosal irritation, toxicity, and antimicrobial resistance—drive the search for safer alternatives. Natural products derived from plants, animals, and minerals offer promising solutions due to their antimicrobial efficacy, biocompatibility, and environmental sustainability.

Key Natural Agents and Mechanisms

Plant-Based Products:

• Clove oil (eugenol), tea tree oil (terpinen-4-ol), neem (azadirachtin), and green tea extract (epigallocatechin gallate, EGCG) disrupt microbial cell membranes, inhibit biofilm formation, and suppress virulence genes.

• Cinnamon oil (cinnamaldehyde) targets quorum sensing and bacterial cell walls.

Animal-Derived Products:

• Propolis (flavonoids, phenolic acids) and honey (hydrogen peroxide) inhibit microbial growth, promote wound healing, and reduce inflammation.

Mineral/Microbial Products:

• Clay minerals and bacteriocins (e.g., nisin) absorb toxins and disrupt microbial membranes.

These agents act via:

1. Direct antimicrobial effects (membrane disruption, enzyme inhibition).

2. Biofilm disruption (blocking adhesion, exopolysaccharide suppression).

3. Anti-inflammatory actions (curcumin inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokines).

Applications

Prosthodontics:

• Denture disinfection: Clove oil, thyme oil, and propolis reduce Candida albicans colonization.

• Material incorporation: Adding phytoncides to denture bases (e.g., PMMA resins) inhibits microbial growth.

• Oral rinses/gels: Herbal mouthwashes with neem or cranberry extract match chlorhexidine in efficacy against Streptococcus mutans.

Oral Implantology:

• Implant surface disinfection: Totarol coatings on titanium surfaces prevent bacterial adhesion long-term. Essential oils (cinnamon, clove) enhance wettability, reducing biofilm risk.

• Peri-implantitis management: Propolis and EGCG reduce pathogenic bacteria (e.g., Porphyromonas gingivalis) and inflammation. Adjunctive use with mechanical debridement improves outcomes.

Advantages and Challenges

Advantages:

• Biocompatibility, low toxicity, and ecological sustainability.

• Synergistic effects (e.g., lipid-soluble EGCG + antibiotics inhibit biofilms by >99%).

Challenges:

• Variability: Inconsistent composition due to extraction methods and source differences (Fig. 3a-h).

• Regulatory gaps: No FDA approval; classified as OTC products.

• Limited clinical data: Small-scale trials and lack of standardized protocols hinder translation.

Future Directions

1. Nanotechnology: Liposomes/nanoparticles enhance stability and targeted delivery of natural agents.

2. Clinical validation: Large-scale trials (Phases II/III) for peri-implantitis applications.

3. Standardization: Protocols for extraction, formulation, and quality control.

Conclusion

Natural disinfectants—notably propolis, EGCG, and clove oil—hold significant potential as sustainable, safe alternatives to synthetics. Addressing standardization and regulatory barriers through rigorous research will facilitate their integration into mainstream dental practice.

 

Full text

https://www.xiahepublishing.com/2572-5505/JERP-2025-00016

 

The study was recently published in the Journal of Exploratory Research in Pharmacology.

Journal of Exploratory Research in Pharmacology (JERP) publishes original innovative exploratory research articles, state-of-the-art reviews, editorials, short communications that focus on novel findings and the most recent advances in basic and clinical pharmacology, covering topics from drug research, drug development, clinical trials and application.

 

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Journal

Journal of Exploratory Research in Pharmacology

DOI

10.14218/JERP.2025.00016 

Article Title

Natural Products Used as Disinfectants in Prosthodontics and Oral Implantology: A Narrative Review

SUPERCOLD

Researchers find ways to improve liquid hydrogen tank efficiency

Washington State University

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PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University researchers have developed a mathematical model and a set of recommendations to improve liquid hydrogen storage tank operations that could someday make hydrogen a more viable alternative for powering vehicles and other industrial processes.

The researchers used real-world tank data to identify operational regimes in which hydrogen boils off and is lost, which can be as much as 25% of the hydrogen delivered to storage tanks. The work is published in the journal Cryogenics.

“If we want to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and come up with fuel that is clean and produced from renewable energy sources, then liquid hydrogen is a most suitable candidate for that purpose,” said Konstantin Matveev, professor in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering and a co-author on the paper. “Now we have a tool that can model important parts of the liquid hydrogen supply chain and using that tool, we can make this technology for the green economy more feasible.”

Hydrogen-powered vehicles are an alternative to gasoline or diesel-powered combustion engines because they don’t emit harmful greenhouse gases. They are particularly appealing for heavy machinery, such as forklifts or trucking, where electric vehicles require too many batteries. One company, Plug Power, currently operates about 250 liquid hydrogen tanks that power 70,000 hydrogen-powered forklifts around the world, moving approximately 30% of groceries in the U.S.

But storing and transporting hydrogen is a major challenge for the industry. Liquid hydrogen is the most convenient form of hydrogen for most industrial uses, but keeping it liquid means it has to be stored at extremely low temperatures. Any time that the hydrogen encounters normal air temperatures, it boils off very quickly. To keep the hydrogen liquid and move it in and out of tanks, a large number of structural elements and mechanisms are employed, such as insulating shells, pressure valves, fluid circuits, and pumps to minimize boil-off losses.

“There are several complex processes happening at the same time, which makes developing a theoretical model really important not only to understand the current operations, but also to invest in technology to improve those operations,” said Jake Leachman, corresponding author on the paper and a professor in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering.

One area where a lot of loss happens is when hydrogen is being transferred.

“The transfer line has to be cooled down, and during that process, around 13% of hydrogen molecules stored in the liquid form are lost due to evaporation and can’t be utilized as a liquid hydrogen fuel,” said Kyle Appel, first author on the paper and a recent master’s degree graduate from the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering.

In their work, the WSU research team developed a theoretical model for real-world tank performance and verified it using data from a fleet of Plug Power’s in-service tanks. The researchers showed that changes in liquid hydrogen tank operations can yield significant boil-off loss reductions, and that it is possible to get to zero boil-off with additional system modifications. For instance, they showed that changing the pressure limits when the relief valves are activated can decrease hydrogen loss by about 26%.

“That’s just changing the set parameters of a valve, which is pretty simple,” said Appel.

The mathematical model they developed is computationally efficient to run, too, said Matveev. Previous, more involved models have taken days to run, required a supercomputer, and could only simulate the tank’s operations for a few hours. WSU’s new simplified model calibrated against real-world test data can simulate hundreds of hours of operation in minutes.

“Using this tool, you can effectively explore a variety of operational changes, so our contribution here is also in developing an efficient mathematical model that can be used in industry, by customers, designers, and government entities,” said Matveev.

The researchers are continuing to work with Plug Power as they look at ways to implement their recommendations for liquid hydrogen tanks. They also want to refine their model to better understand transfer operations, pumps, and other devices in the hydrogen systems. The researchers are doing additional studies for the Federal Aviation Administration, evaluating and modeling the storage of liquid hydrogen at airports.

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Journal

Cryogenics

DOI

10.1016/j.cryogenics.2025.104161 

Method of Research

Computational simulation/modeling

Article Title

Modeling the effects of liquid hydrogen tank operations on boil-off losses

Article Publication Date

5-Aug-2025

York University -led safe water tool nearly three times more effective than standard practice, new study finds

York researcher says with significant cuts to humanitarian funding in 2025, demand for cost-effective, evidence-based solutions is growing

York University

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TORONTO, Thursday, Aug. 20 – A new study finds a dramatic increase in safe drinking water when a machine learning-enabled tool created by York University researchers is used to optimize chlorination levels in refugee camp water supplies. Lead author Syed Imran Ali says that the new study shows that the Safe Water Optimization Tool (SWOT) vastly out-performs status-quo guidelines for safe water supply in humanitarian response. 

 

“Our research found the SWOT can deliver safe drinking water at nearly three times the rate as compared to standard practices, adding to a growing body of evidence that shows it to be a highly efficacious tool in a variety of situations,” says Ali, director of the Humanitarian Water Engineering Lab at the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research and an adjunct professor at the Lassonde School of Engineering. 

 

“With humanitarian work being undertaken in increasingly challenging conditions and the system under immense financial strain, the demand for evidence-based solutions like the SWOT is growing.” 

 

For the study, published in BMJ Global Health, the researchers analyzed routinely collected water-quality data from an active humanitarian response at the Kutupalong-Balukhali refugee settlement in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh where the SWOT had been implemented. They found that households following SWOT guidelines achieved safe water 90 per cent of the time, compared to 35 per cent with the status-quo universal guideline otherwise used in humanitarian response.

 

The study also found that in order for the intervention to have maximum impact, water monitoring teams and water treatment operations need to be integrated to find the optimized chlorination levels. 

 

“The challenge is making sure that water system operators have the proper support to improve feedback between monitoring and water treatment.”     

Other authors on the paper and fellow SWOT collaborators include machine learning lead Professor Usman T. Khan from Lassonde’s Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Health Associate Professor Tarra Penney, PhD candidate Mike De Santi, former Dahdaleh director Dr. James Orbinski, SWOT technical advisor Matt Arnold, SWOT data science specialist Syed Saad Ali, and Jean-François Fesselet with the public health department at Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Holland.

The SWOT is a free, open-source online tool that Ali developed after working as a water and sanitation specialist in South Sudan with MSF. Ali and colleagues discovered that universal water chlorination guidelines used widely in the humanitarian sector were built on faulty assumptions. They worked on creating a tool with fellow York researchers and MSF to help aid workers generate site-specific and evidence-based chlorination levels in refugee camps using just routine monitoring data. It has since helped provide safe water for more than 700,000 people globally. This includes recent collaborations in Yemen and Gaza, where Ali says there are extreme operational challenges, and Uganda, where Ali firsthand witnessed the effects of recent dramatic U.S. government cuts to the humanitarian sector. 

 

“Basic humanitarian life support systems, across the world, are degrading very quickly and the sector is operating under extremely challenging conditions,” says Ali. “There's a pressure now, with reduced resources, to ensure interventions are evidence-based and demonstrably effective, and that's exactly what the SWOT does for safe water systems.” 

 

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York University is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change, and prepare our students for success. York's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. York’s campuses in Costa Rica and India offer students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future. 

 

Media Contact: Emina Gamulin, York University Media Relations, 437-217-6362, egamulin@yorku.ca

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Journal

BMJ Global Health

DOI

10.1136/bmjgh-2024-018631 

Article Title

Proof-of-concept evaluation at Cox’s Bazar of the Safe Water Optimization Tool: water quality modelling for safe water supply in humanitarian emergencies

Article Publication Date

20-Aug-2025

 

A multisensor approach to accurate snow water equivalent retrieval from space

Journal of Remote Sensing

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(A) Elevation, (B) land cover, and (C) canopy cover (%) for the Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR) flight line (red outline) and the Upper San Joaquin River basin (USJ; black outline). (D) shows the location of the study area within California. The black crosses represent the 5 snow pillow locations. DPO, Devils Postpile; CUES, Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory of the US Army Corps of Engineers and University of California, Santa Barbara Energy Site on Mammoth Mountain; MHP, Mammoth Pass; VLC, Volcanic Knob; UBC, Upper Burnt Corral.

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Credit: Journal of Remote Sensing

Snow water equivalent (SWE) measurements are critical for water resource management, yet existing remote sensing methods struggle to provide accurate, large-scale estimates. This study introduces a multisensor approach combining optical snow cover data and L-band interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) to enhance SWE retrievals. By analyzing multiple optical snow cover datasets in conjunction with UAVSAR L-band InSAR data, the researchers demonstrate how these combined technologies can effectively address the uncertainties in snow measurement, improving the accuracy of SWE change estimations over snow-covered regions.

Current snow monitoring techniques, particularly those relying on satellite remote sensing, face challenges in accurately measuring snow water equivalent (SWE), especially in mountain environments where snow dynamics are complex. While radar-based L-band interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) has shown promise for SWE retrieval, its accuracy is often compromised by varying snow cover data, which can affect the interpretation of radar signals. This research explores the integration of optical snow cover data with radar-based measurements to refine SWE estimations. The study highlights the importance of choosing appropriate snow cover products and their influence on the overall SWE retrieval process.

The study (DOI: 10.34133/remotesensing.0682), published in Journal of Remote Sensing on July 3, 2025, examines the impact of optical snow cover data on the accuracy of L-band InSAR-based SWE retrievals. Conducted by NASA's Hydrological Sciences Laboratory and other institutions, the research employs a variety of satellite-derived snow cover products, including Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Landsat, to evaluate their effect on InSAR-based SWE change measurements over the Sierra Nevada Mountains during NASA's SnowEx 2020 campaign. The findings offer new insights into the combined use of optical and radar data for snow monitoring.

The research evaluated six optical snow cover products, including MODIS, VIIRS, Landsat, and a fused Landsat-MODIS product, to assess their impact on L-band InSAR-derived SWE change retrievals. The study was conducted over the Sierra Nevada Mountains using airborne UAVSAR L-band InSAR data from the NASA SnowEx 2020 campaign. The researchers performed a moving window analysis to quantify the variability in SWE estimates induced by different snow cover products. The results revealed that products based on MODIS and VIIRS provided SWE retrievals comparable to more complex spectral unmixing methods, while Landsat-derived snow cover data showed significant discrepancies in SWE estimates due to differences in canopy cover corrections. By comparing these datasets with a western US snow reanalysis product, the team identified the potential sources of uncertainty in L-band InSAR SWE retrievals, such as subcanopy snow detection and atmospheric phase delays. These findings emphasize the need for careful selection of snow cover data in multisensor approaches for future satellite-based SWE monitoring, particularly with the upcoming NISAR mission.

Dr. Jack Tarricone, lead researcher from NASA’s Hydrological Sciences Laboratory, commented, "This study underscores the critical importance of selecting the right snow cover data for accurate SWE retrievals. Our findings show that combining optical and radar data can significantly improve the precision of SWE measurements, which are essential for water resource management in snow-dependent regions. As spaceborne radar missions like NISAR prepare for launch, this research provides valuable insights into optimizing SWE estimation techniques for broader applications."

The implications of this research are far-reaching for hydrology, climate monitoring, and water resource management. By refining the methods used to estimate SWE from space, this study offers a pathway to more accurate and timely snowpack measurements, which are essential for managing water resources in regions heavily dependent on snowmelt. The integration of optical and radar data could enhance near-real-time monitoring, facilitating better predictions for flood forecasting, drought management, and climate change analysis. As new satellite missions like NISAR come online, this multisensor approach will be pivotal in ensuring that SWE retrievals are both reliable and globally applicable.

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References

DOI

10.34133/remotesensing.0682

Original Source URL

https://doi.org/10.34133/remotesensing.0682

Funding information

J.T. is supported by an appointment to the NASA Postdoctoral Program at the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), administered by ORAU through a contract with NASA. This research was also supported by NASA (grant nos. NNX17AL40G and 80NSSC21K0176, PI A.N.; grant nos. 80NSSC22K0929, 80NSSC22K0703, 80NSSC24K1270, 80NSSC22K0686, PI K.R.; grant no. 80NSSC24K1082, PI R.P.) and the U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (grant no. W913E523C0002, PI H.-P.M.).

About Journal of Remote Sensing

The Journal of Remote Sensing, an online-only Open Access journal published in association with AIR-CAS, promotes the theory, science, and technology of remote sensing, as well as interdisciplinary research within earth and information science.

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Journal

Journal of Remote Sensing

DOI

10.34133/remotesensing.0682 

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Investigating the Impact of Optical Snow Cover Data on L-Band InSAR Snow Water Equivalent Retrievals

 

First observations by the Total Anthropogenic and Natural emissions mapping SpectrOmeter-3 (TANSO-3) onboard the Global Observing SATellite for Greenhouse gases and Water cycle “IBUKI GW” (GOSAT-GW)

National Institute for Environmental Studies

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image: 

(a) Global observation (July 14, 2025, radiance (light intensity) at a wavelength of 767 nm), (b) Focus Mode observation over Tokyo (July 17, 2025, radiance at a wavelength of 767 nm), and (c) spectral data (wavelength range of approximately 750–780 nm).

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Credit: JAXA/MOE/NIES

1. Summary

The National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), in cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment of Japan (MOE) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), has been observing atmospheric carbon dioxide, methane, and other gases by utilizing the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT) Series, with the aim of advancing climate change science and contributing to the evaluation of climate change policies and initiatives.

The Global Observing SATellite for Greenhouse gases and Water cycle “IBUKI GW” (GOSAT-GW)1, developed jointly by MOE, NIES, and JAXA, was successfully launched at 1:33 a.m. on June 29, 2025 (JST). Since the launch, initial functional verification operations2 of “IBUKI GW” (GOSAT-GW) have been conducted.

The first observation by the Total Anthropogenic and Natural emissions mapping SpectrOmeter-3 (TANSO-3) onboard this satellite was carried out from July 14 to July 20, 2025, and the proper operation of TANSO-3 was confirmed.

After the initial functional verification operations are completed over a period of three months after the launch, a sensor accuracy test and an initial calibration will be performed. Following these processes, GOSAT-GW will shift to the nominal operation phase, with the aim of beginning to provide data to relevant parties towards the end of 2025.

2. First observational data by TANSO-3

Figure 1 shows the first observational data by TANSO-3.

(a) In Wide Mode3, global observations are made with a swath width of over 900 km and a spatial resolution of 10 km. The Wide Mode observations cover the entire globe within three days.
(b) In Focus Mode4, observations are made with a swath width of over 90 km and a spatial resolution of 1–3 km.
(c) For each pixel (observation point) in the images shown in (a) and (b), spectral data5 can be obtained, as shown in the graph in (c). The first observation operation of TANSO-3 successfully acquired spectral absorption data for carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrogen dioxide as planned, confirming that the observation functions of TANSO-3 are operating properly.

Figure 2 shows observation images captured in Wide Mode and Focus Mode on July 14, 2025. The Focus Mode images are shown within the Wide Mode images inside the red dotted rectangles. In Wide Mode, observations are made from south to north along the satellite orbit with a swath width of over 900 km, which enables global observations approximately once every three days. TANSO-3 is the only sensor in the world that can observe global greenhouse and other gases at high frequency and over a wide area by selecting Wide Mode and Focus Mode observations. It is expected that TANSO-3 will contribute to the observation of greenhouse gases on a global scale.

Figure 3 shows an example of the Wide and Focus Modes. On the left is an observation image of the area from Kinki to Hokkaido obtained in Wide Mode at around 1:00 p.m. on July 20, 2025. On the right is an observation image of the Tokyo area captured in Focus Mode at around 1:00 p.m. on July 17, 2025. In addition to the Wide Mode, which can observe an area such as that from Kinki to Hokkaido at once, TANSO-3 has Focus Mode. In Focus Mode, the sensor can collect images with a higher spatial resolution than in Wide Mode by pointing at the targeted observation points with the onboard scanner mirror.

Figure 4 shows the spectral data of each observation band obtained at observation points along the white line in Figure 3 (right). The data are displayed two-dimensionally, with the horizontal axis representing the wavelength direction (WL) and the vertical axis representing the spatial direction perpendicular to the orbit (CT). Below the two-dimensional image of each band, the spectral data of the 15th pixel in the CT direction are shown. The spectral data of each band show variations in the wavelength direction. These variations indicate that sunlight is absorbed at specific wavelengths by nitrogen dioxide (Band 1), oxygen (Band 2), and greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane (Band 3) as it passes through the atmosphere. The detailed analysis of these variations (absorption degrees) makes it possible to calculate the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Figure 5 shows the global observational data (Band 2, wavelength of 767 nm) obtained in Wide Mode of TANSO-3 during the period July 14 to 16, 2025, confirming that TANSO-3 can observe the entire globe within three days.

Note: In Figures 1, 2, 3, and 5, the areas observed by TANSO-3 are shown in grayscale images. Other areas are shown in color Google Earth images.

3. Annotations

1. IBUKI GW (GOSAT-GW: Global Observing SATellite for Greenhouse gases and Water cycle)
A satellite that observes the Earth’s water cycle and greenhouse gases from space; it carries two mission instruments, the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 3 (AMSR3) and the Total Anthropogenic and Natural emissions mapping SpectrOmeter-3 (TANSO-3).

2. Initial functional verification operations
Operations that verify the satellite, including its onboard sensors, has the specified functional performance in orbit.

3. Wide Mode
A TANSO-3 observation mode that maps the entire globe with a swath width of over 900 km and a spatial resolution of 10 km.

4. Focus Mode
A TANSO-3 observation mode that maps urban areas or other areas with a swath width of over 90 km and a spatial resolution of 1–3 km.

5. Spectral data
Data measured for each wavelength (color) of sunlight intensity after absorption by the Earth’s atmosphere.

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Method of Research

Observational study

Observation images by TANSO-3 (July 14, 2025) 


The radiance values of Band 2 at a wavelength of 767 nm are displayed in grayscale. Higher values (brighter) are displayed in white, whereas lower values (darker) are displayed in black.

The radiance values of Band 2 at a wavelength of 767 nm are displayed in grayscale.





The thick colored lines below each horizontal axis indicating a wavelength show the absorption bands of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), oxygen (O2), carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane (CH4).




Global observation in the Wide Mode of TANSO-3 from July 14 to July 16, 2025 (Band 2, radiance at a wavelength of 767 nm). 

Credit
JAXA/MOE/NIES