Japan will launch a climate research satellite in December to analyze and forecast global warming-linked environmental changes, the science ministry said Friday.The satellite, named Shikisai, will be placed in orbit 800 kilometers above the ground from where it will conduct long-term monitoring of cloud cover, levels of dust and aerosols in the atmosphere as well as ocean color, vegetation, snow and ice cover on the earth's surface.Its launch, planned for Dec. 23, is intended to improve the accuracy of global warming forecasting and to help tackle associated problems, according to the Minis…READ FULL ARTICLE