Monitoring of atmospheric composition using the thermal infrared IASI/MetOp sounder

Abstract

Abstract. Atmospheric remote sensing from satellite is an essential component of the observational strategy deployed to monitor atmospheric pollution and changing composition. The IASI nadir looking thermal infrared sounder onboard MetOp will provide 15 years of global scale observations for a series of key atmospheric species, with unprecedented spatial sampling and coverage. This paper gives an overview of the instrument's capability for measuring atmospheric composition in the perspective of chemistry and air quality studies. The assessment is made in terms of species, accuracy and vertical information. Global distributions are presented for CO, CH4, O3 (total and tropospheric), HNO3, NH3 and volcanic SO2. Local distributions of organic species measured during fire events, such as C2H4, CH3OH, HCOOH, and PAN are also shown. For each species or process, the link is made to specialized papers in this issue.

Detection of volcanic SO2, ash, and H2SO4 using the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI)

“…This instrument was designed to provide 5 years of global‐scale observations of meteorological variables and of a series of key atmospheric gas species with exceptional spatial sampling and coverage. Technical details about IASI and applications for chemistry are explained by Clerbaux et al [2009]. IASI operates in nadir geometry and measures the thermal emission of the Earth/atmosphere.…”

“…In this way, IASI provides global coverage twice daily, once in the morning (around 0930 local time (LT)) and once in the evening (around 2130 LT). It was shown recently that IASI radiances contain important information about traces gases and aerosols [ Clarisse et al , 2008; Clerbaux et al , 2009] and a potential to track even short‐lived species in space and time, allowing for instance plume chemistry to be studied [ Coheur et al , 2009]. Among the numerous trace gas spectral signatures, IASI covers the ν 1 , ν 3 and ν 1 + ν 3 bands of SO 2 as well as volcanic ash and aerosols absorption features between 800 and 1300 cm −1 .…”

Remote sensing: Searching better accuracy for greenhouse gasses monitoring

“…After the first d decrease and HCl is formed involved. CHO, SO 2 , and O 3 are the most es to be measured from space in olet) spectral region [14]. Figure e absorptions due to molecules only measured from space in the ns are for typical measurement ric concentrations and, for er conditions of moderate SO2 is increased to an amount source and ClO and OClO increased to amounts typically ortex.…”

Early Warning for Geological Disasters

“…IASI measures the Earth's outgoing thermal radiation for weather forecasting and scientific applications (atmospheric chemistry and climate; Clerbaux et al 2009). IASI measures the Earth's outgoing thermal radiation for weather forecasting and scientific applications (atmospheric chemistry and climate; Clerbaux et al 2009).…”