A review of recent and planned remote column integrated Carbon Dioxide measurements; technique improvements and campaign results conducted at JPL to further the development of the ASCENDS mission

The Carbon Dioxide Laser Absorption Spectrometer (CO2LAS) was modified and adapted for the NASA DC-8 aircraft during the past year and flown on a series of flights in July 2010 as part of the ASCENDS (Active Sensing of Carbon-dioxide Emissions over Nights, Days and Seasons) mission development in partnership with other passive and active instruments from NASA GSFC, NASA LARC and ITT. The CO2LAS measures the column integrated carbon dioxide beneath the aircraft using an Integrated Path Differential Absorption (IPDA) Spectrometer approach operating in the 2 micron wavelength band. A series of 5 flights were conducted over varying terrain types at altitudes from 40kft down to the surface. A summary of the campaign and results will be presented. In addition to the results we will report on technique and technology improvements over the past year that are necessary to mature this approach for eventual space deployment. These include studies on the detailed lineshape in the frequency region of interest and the use of existing Shuttle Radar Topography (SRTM) data to assist in data reduction. We will conclude with a summary of recent technology component development progress in the area of compact frequency reference sources and high power laser amplifiers necessary to mature the instrument hardware for the ASCENDS mission.