The Palmer Research Group @ The University of Edinburgh

Palmer Group @ Edinburgh:: Satellite Observations of Tropospheric Composition

Introduction
Space-borne measurements of the composition of Earth's lower atmosphere are relatively new. We, as a community, are just beginning to make full use of these data to learn about Earth's atmosphere. Currenty there are several satellite instruments orbiting the Earth (most of which are in the A-train) that can measure tropospheric O₃ and many of its photochemical precursors (e.g., NO₂, formaldehyde), CO, CO₂, CH₄, and aerosol optical properties. The biggest challenge facing the chemistry-climate community is how to best use these data. Below is a list of some projects we are currently involved with.

A train satellite constellation
The A-train satellite constellation (flanked by Aura and Aqua) plus OCO

Aura satellite

OCO satellite

General Areas of Current Research

GOME and OMI
In an ongoing collaboration with Kelly Chance and his group (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics) we analyze column observations of formaldehyde, NO₂ and tropospheric O₃ from the Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment (GOME) and the Ozone Monitoring Experiment (OMI) [1-9]. Our collaborative work is the first to fully exploit column observations of formaldehyde as constraints on biogenic VOC emissions.

TES
The Aura spacecraft, launched in July 2004, is the first mission dedicated to understanding atmospheric composition. The Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES) is a key instrument aboard Aura that observes a range of tropospheric gases. In collaboration with the TES group at JPL we will investigate the potential of these data to improve understanding of chemistry and dynamics in the lower atmosphere. In particular improving understanding of the links between air quality and global pollution.

OCO and GOSAT
The Orbiting Carbon Observatory and the Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite, both due for launch in 2008, are designed to measure column CO₂ to 1ppm precision. We are helping to assess what we can learn about the global carbon cycle from these CO₂ data.

MODIS and MISR
The MODIS and MISR instruments provide a wide range of environmental information, including aerosol optical properties, cloud optical properties, ocean color (a proxy for marine biomass [10]), sea-surface temperature, and land cover characteristics. We will be using the UKCA aerosol scheme in TOMCAT, in collaboration with Ken Carslaw's group at the University of Leeds, to interpret MODIS and MISR data.

[1] Palmer, P. I., et al, J. Geophys. Res.., in press, 2006. (PDF)
[2] Liu, X., et al, J. Geophys. Res.., in press, 2006. (PDF)
[3] Shim, C., et al, J. Geophys. Res., doi:10.1029/2004JD005629, 2005. (PDF)
[4] Palmer, P. I., et al, J. Geophys. Res., doi:10.1029/2002JD002153, 2003. (PDF)
[5] Abbot, D. S., et al, Geophys. Res. Lett. doi:10.1029/2003GL017336, 2003. (PDF). Journal cover.
[6] Martin, R. V., et al, J. Geophys. Res., doi: 10.1029/2003JD003453, 2003. (PDF)
[7] Martin, R. V., et al, J. Geophys. Res., 10.1029/2001JD001027, 2002. (PDF)
[8] Palmer, P. I., et al, J. Geophys. Res., 106, 14539-14550, 2001. (PDF)
[9] Chance, K., et al, Geophys. Res. Lett, 27, 3461-3464, 2000. (PDF)
[10] Palmer, P. I. and S. Shaw, Geophys. Res. Lett., doi:10.1029/2005GL022592, 2005. (PDF). [Isoprene Ocean Flux Data].