A simple and quick sensitivity analysis method for methane isotopologues detection with GOSAT-TANSO-FTS

Abstract

Measurements of methane isotopologues can differentiate between different source types, be they biogenic (e.g. marsh lands) or abiogenic (e.g. industry). Global measurements of these isotopologues would greatly benefit the current disconnect between ‘top-down’ (knowledge from chemistry transport models and satellite measurements) and ‘bottom-up’ (in situ measurement inventories) methane measurements. However, current measurements of these isotopologues are limited to a small number of in situ studies and airborne studies. In this paper we investigate the potential for detecting the second most common isotopologue of methane (13CH4) from space using the Japanese Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite applying a quick and simple residual radiance analysis technique. The method allows for a rapid analysis of spectral regions, and can be used to teach university students or advanced school students about radiative transfer analysis. Using this method we find limited sensitivity to 13CH4, with detections limited to total column methane enhancements of >6%, assuming a desert surface albedo of >0.3.

Long-Term Trends and Spatiotemporal Variations in Atmospheric XCH4 over China Utilizing Satellite Observations

“…In recent years, many instruments have been produced that can be used for methane observation. The nearinfrared satellite sensors include the Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric Chyrtography (SCIAMACHY) (Developed by a trilateral German/Dutch/Belgian activity under the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), Netherlands Space Office (NSO) and Belgian Federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO)) [10,11] on the Environmental Satellite (ENVISAT)(Developed by European Space Agency in Europe), the Greenhouse Gases Observation Satellite (GOSAT)(Developed by the Ministry of the Environment (MOE), the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in Japan) [12], and the Thermal and Near-infrared Sensor for Carbon Observation (TANSO)(Developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in Tokyo, Japan) [13,14]. Thermal infrared spectrometers include the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS)(Developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in Florida, USA) [15] on the Earth Observing System (EOS)(Implemented by NASA)/Aura platform, the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) (Developed by European Space Agency in Europe) [16] on the European polar meteorological operation platform, and the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS)(Developed by NASA in Florida, USA) on American Earth observation satellites in the national polar orbiting environmental satellite system, Suomi National Polar orbiting Partnership (NPP) [17], in which GOSAT also includes a thermal infrared detector.…”