›Monitoring Greenhouse Gases from Space

Europe pioneered the remote sensing of the greenhouse gases (GHG) CO2 and CH4 with SCIAMACHY on ENVISAT from 2002 to 2012. This time series on greenhouse gases from space was and is continued by space based greenhouse gas sensors from Japan (GOSAT), US (OCO-2), China (TANSAT) and most recently Europe (Sentinel-5 Precursor). These data sets make it possible for the first time to examine distributions of sources and sinks of greenhouse gases as well as their temporal changes on a global comparable basis, albeit with limitations, e.g. regarding spatial and temporal resolution or coverage. Examples of the use of CO2 and CH4 satellite data include natural as well as anthropogenic processes. Parallel, the development and application of aircraft-based remote sensing technologies has demonstrated the potential to independently determine CO2 and CH4 emissions from strong point sources. The satellite and airborne GHG research laid important foundations for future satellite-based systems for monitoring GHG emissions as envisaged by the European COPERNICUS CO2 monitoring (CO2M) satellite constellation as part of an international GHG constellation. Based on examples of existing satellite missions and airborne remotes sensing data, the presentation will summarize the progress made and will outline opportunities and challenges of the space based monitoring of greenhouse gas sources and sinks.

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