Analyzing urban and ind ustrial carbon monoxide sources from space
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 Ea rth, 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 t o the abundance of this gas in the atmosphere. Carbon monoxide is rel atively low, making emissions from cities and factories highly visibl e, but CO2 is so abundant that emissions are difficult to detect. Bec ause carbon monoxide and CO2 are emitted during the same processes, i nformation about one helps with research into the other. Gijs Leguijt 's research question was therefore twofold. First, he mapped carbon m onoxide 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 factorie
s mapped
Leguijt and his colleagues have demonstrated tha
t using the TROPOMI satellite, they can quickly determine carbon mono
xide emissions from large cities and factories. The determined emissi
ons 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 t
hese models. Furthermore, the researchers combined the carbon monoxid
e measurements from TROPOMI with satellite measurements of atmospheri
c CO2. By combining the two data products, they were able to use a la
rger portion of the CO2 measurements for research. By examining both
gases, the researchers can further indicate the efficiency of combust
ion processes in these large point sources.
Climate change is a major problem that affects us all. This research must therefore be s een 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 monitori ng). To combat climate change, greenhouse gas emissions must be reduc ed. 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 dire ct emissions, researchers also investigated the efficiency of combust ion processes. This method can therefore be used to identify "low-han ging fruit"—places where efficiency is currently low, and where gai ns can therefore be made relatively easily.
More information on the thesis
DESCRIPTION: Carbon monoxide (CO) is an air pollutant that plays a sig nificant role in the atmosphere. To combat climate change, it's impor tant to map where and how much of many gases are emitted. Because sat ellites measure all over the Earth, they offer a unique opportunity f or this. Some gases (such as carbon monoxide) are well-suited for thi s, while others (such as carbon dioxide (CO2)) are less so. This diff erence is primarily due to the abundance of this gas in the atmospher e. Carbon monoxide is relatively low, making emissions from cities an d factories highly visible, but CO2 is so abundant that emissions are difficult to detect. Because carbon monoxide and CO2 are emitted dur ing the same processes, information about one helps with research int o the other. Gijs Leguijt's research question was therefore twofold. First, he mapped carbon monoxide emissions from large sources using s atellite measurements. He then used this data to improve the determin ation of CO2 emissions. Carbon monoxide emissions from large cities and factories mapped