Carbon monoxide (CO) is an air pollutant that plays a significant role in the atmosphere. To combat climate change, it's important to map where and how much of many gases are emitted. Because satellites measure all over the Earth, they offer a unique opportunity for this.
Some gases (such as carbon monoxide) are well-suited for this, while others (such as carbon dioxide (CO2)) are less so. This difference is primarily due to the abundance of this gas in the atmosphere. Carbon monoxide is relatively low, making emissions from cities and factories highly visible, but CO2 is so abundant that emissions are difficult to detect. Because carbon monoxide and CO2 are emitted during the same processes, information about one helps with research into the other. Gijs Leguijt's research question was therefore twofold. First, he mapped carbon monoxide emissions from large sources using satellite measurements. He then used this data to improve the determination of CO2 emissions.
Carbon monoxide emissions from large cities and factories mapped
Leguijt and his colleagues have demonstrated that using the TROPOMI satellite, they can quickly determine carbon monoxide emissions from large cities and factories. The determined emissions from these point sources sometimes deviate from large models that determine emissions based on statistics and reported national values. This demonstrates that satellite data can contribute to improving these models. Furthermore, the researchers combined the carbon monoxide measurements from TROPOMI with satellite measurements of atmospheric CO2. By combining the two data products, they were able to use a larger portion of the CO2 measurements for research. By examining both gases, the researchers can further indicate the efficiency of combustion processes in these large point sources.
Climate change is a major problem that affects us all. This research must therefore be seen as part of a larger project, one in which a great deal of work is being done to improve the reporting of emissions (and their monitoring). To combat climate change, greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced. Therefore, it's crucial to have a clear picture of where and how much is emitted. The more complete the picture of harmful emissions, the more targeted our emission reductions can be. In addition to direct emissions, researchers also investigated the efficiency of combustion processes. This method can therefore be used to identify "low-hanging fruit"—places where efficiency is currently low, and where gains can therefore be made relatively easily.
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