Developing a Continuous Hemispheric View of Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The GeoCARB Mission
Abstract
This paper presents discussion of an instrument and space mission concept (GeoCARB) that would provide measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and carbon monoxide (CO) from geostationary orbit. The GeoCARB mission would deliver multiple maps daily of column integrated mixing ratios over the observed landmasses with spatial sampling of 3 km x 3 km and resolution of 4 x 5 km at sub satellite point (SSP), degrading predictably on moving away from SSP. Observing system simulation studies demonstrate that these data will enable CO2 and CH4 flux determination at unprecedented time and space scales. This determination would produce fundamental change in our scientific understanding of the global carbon cycle as well as produce the kind of flux information that will be needed to support international agreements on greenhouse gas emission reductions. The instrumentation concept is based on an approach and components that are of high technology readiness level. Following heritage greenhouse gas instruments, it would exploit four spectral regions: the weak and strong bands of CO2 near 1.61 and 2.06 microns; a region near 2.32 microns for CO and CH4, and the Oxygen A-band for pressure. Prototype testing and performance simulations indicate that the median mission retrieval for CO2, CH4 and CO column mixing ratio are expected to be < 0.7, 1.0 and 10.0%, respectively. These measurements over several years would provide a breakthrough reduction in errors and enhanced attribution of the CO2, CH4 and CO sources within the geostationary field of regard. The GeoCARB instrument is designed to fly as a hosted payload on a commercial communications satellite or a weather satellite thereby lowering the cost while retaining the potential for global expansion.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2013
- Bibcode:
- 2013AGUFM.A12C..08M
- Keywords:
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- 0322 ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE Constituent sources and sinks;
- 0428 BIOGEOSCIENCES Carbon cycling;
- 0478 BIOGEOSCIENCES Pollution: urban;
- regional and global;
- 0480 BIOGEOSCIENCES Remote sensing