HY-1A, China's first marine satellite, has sent back data on ocean color, water temperatures and coastal zones since it was launched in May last year.

"The satellite is working well after it was delivered to our bureau on Sept. 18 last year," said Wang Shuguang, director of the National Bureau of Oceanography, at a press conference in Beijing Sunday.

Since September last year, the satellite has monitored large sea areas of China, the Pacific, Indian, Atlantic and Arctic oceans, as well as the North and South poles, he said, adding that a large number of remote sensing images on water color have been obtained.

Meanwhile, the satellite monitored many marine disasters, including red tides along China's coast.

As part of the marine environment monitoring system, the satellite has also played an important role in curbing marine pollution and boosting the marine economy, he said.

Developed by the Chinese Institute of Space Technology, the satellite was launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, in north China's Shanxi Province, on May 15, 2002.

China will develop a series of marine satellites after the HY-1A.They will have three major functions -- to inspect color changes in sea water, monitor the dynamics of the ocean environment and general surveillance of the ocean environment.

(Xinhua News Agency September 29, 2003)