Open AccessGlobal observations of the carbon budget: 1. Expected satellite capabilities for emission spectroscopy in the EOS and NPOESS eras
Author(s) -
Engelen Richard J.,
Denning A. Scott,
Gurney Kevin R.,
Stephens Graeme L.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2001jd900223
Subject(s) - satellite , environmental science , remote sensing , radiative transfer , cirrus , meteorology , troposphere , computer science , geology , physics , quantum mechanics , astronomy
This paper investigates the expected capabilities of the new generation of infrared satellite sounders for detecting CO 2 . A general circulation model is used to simulate realistic CO 2 fields and to define the needed accuracy of CO 2 observations in order to be useful in constraining surface sources and sinks of CO 2 , which will be described in more detail in a future paper. Optimal estimation retrieval theory is then used to determine the possible accuracy of the satellite measurements and to define the retrieval characteristics. A discussion of several factors that affect the retrievals is also included. We conclude that tropospheric column retrievals of CO 2 are possible with an accuracy of better than 1 ppmv on a monthly mean basis. Several factors, like thin cirrus clouds and radiative transfer modeling errors, will degrade these results if not carefully accounted for. The possibility of extensive time and spatial averaging of the satellite observations will overcome some of these problems.