Seen from Space 2020

JAXA/EORC has retrieved the global distribution of greenhouse gas concentration from radiance spectra acquired from Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite-2 GOSAT-2. GOSAT-2 is a successor of GOSAT, which has been operational for more than 11 years since 2009. In order to contribute to the Paris Agreement, long-term observations of greenhouse gasses are indispensable. In complement with its predecessor, GOSAT-2 would enable such continuous monitoring.
* GOSAT-2: Launched in 2018 as a joint project from the Ministry of Environment, the National Institute for Environmental Studies and JAXA.

As successor to GOSAT (extended mission life), GOSAT-2 was launched in October 2018. It aims to realize long-term monitoring of greenhouse gasses and contribute to the environmental administrations and the international actions to control global warming. GOSAT-2 has improved observation capabilities by measuring carbon monoxide (CO) in addition to carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄); observation patterns have also been improved by its improved target-point function.
Since its launch, GOSAT-2 has continued observations successfully. After initial calibration of onboard sensors, radiance spectra by TANSO-FTS-2 and image by TANSO-CAI-2 have been released to the public since August 2019.
We introduce some results regarding global CO₂, CH₄, and CO distribution obtained by GOSAT-2. As seen in Figure 1, CO₂ concentrations observed by GOSAT and GOSAT-2 show good agreement, allowing for long term monitoring with GOSAT-2. By improving its detectivity, GOSAT-2 can retrieve CO₂ concentration at regions prior not possible by GOSAT (Figure 1). It also detects CO (Figure 2) and CH₄ enhancement from different source sectors by using a two-axis pointing mechanism (Figure 3).
JAXA aims to contribute for the global environmental monitoring and support the Paris Agreement, with joint collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment and the National Institute for Environmental Studies. We are proceeding with data analysis, assessment of large-scale anthropogenic emission reduction and efficacy evaluation towards inventory validation.

To realize the Paris Agreement, a long-term global monitoring of CO₂ for more than 10 years is indispensable. By using GOSAT-2, only Japan can achieve observation of CO₂ for over 11 years in the world. GOSAT data showed that the average concentration of CO₂ in the entire atmosphere had exceeded 400 ppm in December 2015. Figure 1 shows global distribution of CO₂ concentrations retrieved from GOSAT and GOSAT-2 data in September 2019. Since CO₂ concentrations observed by both at the same spots are well consistent, JAXA can continue to obtain long term data through GOSAT and GOSAT-2 seamlessly. In case of GOSAT, there is a limitation to retrieve CO₂ concentration in Africa, Amazon, India, etc. due to thick aerosols in the atmosphere. However, GOSAT-2 is able to retrieve CO₂ concentration even in these area by improving its detectivity. It is also possible to observe over oceans with much wider latitudinal range.

In conjunction with GOSAT, GOSAT-2 can monitor CO emitted from combustion in addition to CO₂ and CH₄. Figure 2 depicts the global distribution of CO concentration retrieved by GOSAT-2 in September 2019. In particular, apparent CO remaining in the atmosphere can be seen over South America due to high concentrations of low temperature combustion during the Amazon forest fires last year.

CH₄ is one of the main greenhouse gasses emitted from different source sectors. GOSAT-2 can observe such emissions ranging from human activities, such as electric power plants, large cities, oils and natural gas fields, landfill, livestock and so on. In order to accurately retrieve emission amounts of greenhouse gases, improved pointing capabilities allows for an increase in gas concentration data yields, where designated areas can be prioritized for CH₄ monitoring. Figure 3 shows the spatial distribution of CH₄ concentration observed by GOSAT-2 in September 2019. It assumes that the higher CH₄ distribution is due to mining of oil, coal and natural gas, or wetland.

Explanation of the Images

Figure 1.

Figure 2 and 3.

Related Sites

• Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite-2 "IBUKI-2" (GOSAT-2)
• NIES GOSAT-2 Project
• Atmosphere, Seen From Space