Spaceborne detection of localized carbon dioxide sources
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-13-2017
Abstract
© 2017, American Association for the Advancement of Science. All rights reserved. Spaceborne measurements by NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) at the kilometer scale reveal distinct structures of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) caused by known anthropogenic and natural point sources. OCO-2 transects across the Los Angeles megacity (USA) show that anthropogenic CO2 enhancements peak over the urban core and decrease through suburban areas to rural background values more than ~100 kilometers away, varying seasonally from ~4.4 to 6.1 parts per million. A transect passing directly downwind of the persistent isolated natural CO2 plume from Yasur volcano (Vanuatu) shows a narrow filament of enhanced CO2 values (~3.4 parts per million), consistent with a CO2 point source emitting 41.6 kilotons per day. These examples highlight the potential of the OCO-2 sensor, with its unprecedented resolution and sensitivity, to detect localized natural and anthropogenic CO2 sources.
Publication Title
Science
Recommended Citation
Schwandner, F.,
Gunson, M.,
Miller, C.,
Carn, S.,
Eldering, A.,
Krings, T.,
Verhulst, K.,
Schimel, D.,
Nguyen, H.,
Crisp, D.,
O’Dell, C.,
Osterman, G.,
Iraci, L.,
&
Podolske, J.
(2017).
Spaceborne detection of localized carbon dioxide sources.
Science,
358(6360).
http://doi.org/10.1126/science.aam5782
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/12248