Progress on passive sensor for ultraprecise measurement of carbon dioxide from space

William S. Heaps; S. Randolph Kawa

doi:10.1117/12.466163

16 June 2003 Progress on passive sensor for ultra-precise measurement of carbon dioxide from space

William S. Heaps, S. Randolph Kawa

Proceedings Volume 4897, Multispectral and Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Instruments and Applications; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.466163
Event: Third International Asia-Pacific Environmental Remote Sensing Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere, Ocean, Environment, and Space, 2002, Hangzhou, China

Abstract

Global measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) are needed to resolve significant discrepancies that exist in our understanding of the global carbon budget and, therefore, man's role in global climate change. The science measurement requirements for CO₂ are extremely demanding (precision <0.3%) No atmospheric chemical species has ever been measured from space with this precision. We are developing a novel application of a Fabry-Perot interferometer to detect spectral absorption of reflected sunlight by CO₂ and O₂ in the atmosphere. Preliminary design studies indicate that the method will be able to achieve the sensitivity and signal-to-noise required to measure column CO₂ at the target specification. We are presently engaged in the construction of a prototype instrument for deployment on an aircraft to test the instrument performance and our ability to retrieve the data in the real atmosphere. In the first 6 months we have assembled a laboratory bench system to begin testing the optical and electronic components. We are also undertaking some measurements of signal and noise levels for actual sunlight reflecting from the ground. We shall present results from some of these ground based studies and discuss their implications for a space based system.

Citation Download Citation

William S. Heaps and S. Randolph Kawa "Progress on passive sensor for ultra-precise measurement of carbon dioxide from space", Proc. SPIE 4897, Multispectral and Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Instruments and Applications, (16 June 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.466163

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