Combined Use of CO and CO2 Satellite Observations

CO2 satellite observations from GOSAT may inform about biosphere-atmosphere exchange of CO2. Here we address the specific question whether we can separate CO2 contributions from biomass burning and the respiration/assimilation exchange. To this end, we first employ IASI CO observations to constrain the biomass burning process. We then translate the CO emissions into CO2 biomass burning emissions using emission factors. Finally, we determine to CO2 exchange flux using the biomass burning CO2 emissions as a prior. All source inversions are done using the TM5-4DVAR system, which allows a 1x1 degree resolution zoom over regions of interest. We focus on regions that experienced drought and fire-related CO anomalies, such as the widespread drought around Moscow in 2010. We show that fire CO2 emissions can only partially explain the observed CO2 anomalies. The remaining anomaly are therefore attributed to reduced net CO2 uptake by the biosphere.