Global methane patterns Global methane patterns

C. FrankenbergC. Frankenberg11, I. Aben, I. Aben11, P. Bergamaschi, P. Bergamaschi22, A. Butz, A. Butz11, S. Houweling, S. Houweling1,31,3, J.F. , J.F.

MeirinkMeirink44, H. Schrijver, H. Schrijver11, T. Warneke, T. Warneke55

11Netherlands Institute for Space Research, The Netherlands.Netherlands Institute for Space Research, The Netherlands.22European Commission European Commission -- Joint Research Centre, Joint Research Centre, IspraIspra, Italy, Italy33Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research Utrecht, The NetheInstitute for Marine and Atmospheric Research Utrecht, The Netherlandsrlands44Royal Meteorological Institute Netherlands, Utrecht, The NetherlRoyal Meteorological Institute Netherlands, Utrecht, The Netherlandsands55Institute of Environmental Physics, Institute of Environmental Physics, Bremen,GermanyBremen,Germany

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OutlineOutline

•• Methane in a nutshellMethane in a nutshell

•• The SCIAMACHY spectrometer onboard ENVISAT, a brief The SCIAMACHY spectrometer onboard ENVISAT, a brief

introductionintroduction

•• Typical applications of SCIAMACHY methane data, daily science Typical applications of SCIAMACHY methane data, daily science

work and the need for standardized formatswork and the need for standardized formats

•• Data availability/sharing, the past, the present and the futureData availability/sharing, the past, the present and the future

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Atmospheric methane, CHAtmospheric methane, CH44

Second most important anthropogenic greenhouse gasSecond most important anthropogenic greenhouse gas

Concentration: 0.00018% = 1.8 Concentration: 0.00018% = 1.8 ppmppm

Main global source: Anerobic bacterial decay of organic matter

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Methane in the past 10000 yearsMethane in the past 10000 years

IPCC 2007

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Methane over the past 25 yearsMethane over the past 25 years

(as seen on ground)(as seen on ground)

No further CH4 increaseNo further CH4 increase

Inter-annual variations are poorly understoodClimate feedback?

E.g. thawing of permafrost

Inter-annual variations are poorly understoodClimate feedback?

E.g. thawing of permafrost

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Methane concentration, an outlookMethane concentration, an outlook

•• Increase after decade of stabilityIncrease after decade of stability

groundground--based measurementsbased measurements

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SCIAMACHY on ENVISATSCIAMACHY on ENVISAT

•• Total mass 215 kgTotal mass 215 kg

•• Hardware Cost ~ 100 MHardware Cost ~ 100 M€€

~ 1.1 m

~ 1.

0 m

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SCIAMACHY MeasurementsSCIAMACHY Measurements

•• Imaging spectrometerImaging spectrometer 240 240 -- 2380 2380

nmnm

•• Over Over 80008000 ““colorscolors””

•• Spatial resolution typically 30 Spatial resolution typically 30 ×× 60 60

kmkm22

•• NadirNadir, , limblimb scattering and solar & scattering and solar &

lunar lunar occultationoccultation measurementsmeasurements

• Global coverage in 6 days

• Spectroscopy is used to derive trace

gas distributions in the troposphere,

stratosphere and mesosphere

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The SCIAMACHY Measurement PrincipleThe SCIAMACHY Measurement Principle

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Methane spectroscopy, the 2Methane spectroscopy, the 2νν33 bandband

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Methane yearly average as seen from SCIAMACHYMethane yearly average as seen from SCIAMACHY

CoalWasteAgricultureRice

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Methane yearly average as seen from SCIAMACHYMethane yearly average as seen from SCIAMACHY

Wetlands,Trees?

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User example: Inversion of methane emissions using User example: Inversion of methane emissions using

atmospheric chemistry transport modelsatmospheric chemistry transport models

P. Bergamaschi, JRC, Italy

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User example: Inversion of methane emissions using User example: Inversion of methane emissions using

atmospheric chemistry transport modelsatmospheric chemistry transport models

P. Bergamaschi, JRC, Italy

Google Earth demo, rice paddy Google Earth demo, rice paddy

emmissionsemmissions

To be included or shown liveTo be included or shown live

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SCIAMACHY data specific issuesSCIAMACHY data specific issues

•• Every day about 15 orbits with 350MB eachEvery day about 15 orbits with 350MB each

�� about 5.2GB per dayabout 5.2GB per day

�� about 2 TB per yearabout 2 TB per year

•• SCIAMACHY data initially provided in nonSCIAMACHY data initially provided in non--standard binary standard binary

format without proper reading routinesformat without proper reading routines

�� nonnon--standard data format required A LOT of extra work and standard data format required A LOT of extra work and

timetime

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SCIAMACHY issues, potential for ADAGUCSCIAMACHY issues, potential for ADAGUC

EveryEvery--day science:day science:

•• Own output format is customized HDF5Own output format is customized HDF5--file, hence all following file, hence all following

routines have to be customroutines have to be custom--made (in C++)made (in C++)

•• Averaging (in time and space), Averaging (in time and space), GriddingGridding, plotting, adjusting color, plotting, adjusting color--

scales, comparing with other datasets, etcscales, comparing with other datasets, etc……

•• Providing data/plots for other users, each time Providing data/plots for other users, each time ““customizedcustomized”” solutionsolution

ADAGUC potential/expectationsADAGUC potential/expectations

•• provide standard provide standard griddinggridding routines (ones the results file format is routines (ones the results file format is

standardisedstandardised, this is easy), this is easy)

•• Provide easy access and quick views for other users, convenient Provide easy access and quick views for other users, convenient data data

access facilitates data distribution AND acceptance levels in thaccess facilitates data distribution AND acceptance levels in the e

communitycommunity

•• Easier comparisons with additional datasets with GISEasier comparisons with additional datasets with GIS--applications (applications (egeg

with soil moisture maps, rice field distributions..)with soil moisture maps, rice field distributions..)

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ConclusionsConclusions

•• SCIAMACHY methane is a scientific (not standard) data product SCIAMACHY methane is a scientific (not standard) data product

from SCIAMACHY, a lot of new insights have been gained!from SCIAMACHY, a lot of new insights have been gained!

•• Scientists tend to create their own format for their own productScientists tend to create their own format for their own products s

(blame also on me) (blame also on me) �� makes it harder for other usersmakes it harder for other users