Orbiting Carbon Observatory

Jun 25, 2014

Orbiting Carbon Observatory 

NASA's OCO-2 Home Page

NASA JPL Press Release on OCO-2

NASA Science News Story on Scheduled OCO-2 Launch

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Dominique CroteauBacker

Thanks Stephen! Very interesting! I am just wondering how the CO2 level in the atmosphere could be measured and represented vs. the spatial resolution. Would that means that you could detect potential areas of carbon sources and sinks or will all measurements be somehow integrated into 1 single global value??? Thanks.

Jun 25, 20140

Stephen HollerResearcher

The spatial resolution of the OCO-2 is regional (NASA says "areas the size of France or Texas") so sources and sinks will be (should be) detectable. It will be interesting to see how much improved this satellite is over the existing technology. FYI, there is no OCO-1; that satellite suffered a failed launch and never achieved orbit. However, Japan operates the Greenhouse Gas Orbserving Satellite or GOSAT project which was launched in 2009 and measures CH4 in addition to CO2. More information about, and data from GOSAT can be found here: http://www.gosat.nies.go.jp/index_e.html

Jun 25, 20140

About This Project

Can we change public perception of climate change by providing real-time environmental data?

Fordham University

The Hidden Harms project arose from the idea that individuals might make more environmentally conscious decisions if they were given routine reminders about atmospheric conditions. This research will provide open access data of concentrations of greenhouse gases and other pollutants. The data will be obtained via a sensor network at Fordham University and spread throughout the boroughs of New York City.