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Envisat makes first ever observation of regionally elevated CO2 from manmade emissions

18 March 2008

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More than 30 billion tonnes of extra carbon dioxide (CO2) is released into the atmosphere annually by human activities, mainly through the burning of fossil fuels (oil, coal, gas) for power generation, industry and traffic.

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Using data acquired from 2003-2005 by the SCIAMACHY instrument aboard ESA's Envisat environmental satellite, scientists have for the first time detected regionally elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide – the most important greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming – originating from manmade emissions. the findings show an extended plume over Europe’s most populated area, the region from Amsterdam in the Netherlands to Frankfurt, Germany.

Credits: ESA - DLR - IUP, Univ.Bremen

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CO2 measurements over the Northern Hemisphere obtained at the Earth’s surface (thin lines) from Envisat’s SCIAMACHY instrument (thick yellow line and two northern hemispheric maps). This figure highlights the natural fluxes of CO2 which, unlike manmade CO2 fluxes, operate in both directions – taking up atmospheric CO2 during spring and summer when plants grow, but releasing most or all of it again later in the year, when the plants decay. This results in higher atmospheric CO2 concentrations in the first half of a year followed by lower CO2 during the second half of a year with a minimum around August.

Credits: ESA - DLR - IUP, Univ.Bremen