Thierry Marbach

Monitoring of atmospheric trace gases, clouds, aerosols and surface properties from UV/vis/NIR satellite instruments

A new generation of UV/vis/near-IR satellite instruments like GOME (since 1995), SCIAMACHY (since 2002), OMI (since 2004), and GOME-2 (since 2006) have allowed one to measure backscattered solar radiance from the Earth with moderate spectral resolution over a large wavelength range (240–790 nm). The SCIAMACHY instrument also includes additional spectral channels in the near-IR. From the measured spectra several important stratospheric and tropospheric trace gases (e.g. O_3, NO_2, OClO, HCHO, SO_2, BrO, H_2O) as well as clouds, aerosols and surface properties can be determined from space. Because of its extended spectral range, the SCIAMACHY instrument also allows the retrieval of greenhouse gases (CO_2, CH_4) and CO in the near-IR. Almost all of the tropospheric trace gases have been observed by these instruments for the first time. From satellite data it is possible to investigate their temporal and spatial variation. Also, different sources can be characterized and quantified. The derived global distributions can serve as input and for the validation of atmospheric models. Here we give an overview of the current status of these new instruments and data products and their recent applications in the investigation of various atmospheric and oceanic phenomena.

Satellite measurements of formaldehyde from shipping emissions

Satellite measurements of formaldehyde from shipping emissions T. Marbach, S. Beirle, U. Platt, P. Hoor, F. Wittrock, A. Richter, M. Vrekoussis, M. Grzegorski, J. P. Burrows, and T. Wagner Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, Germany Institute of Environmental Physics, Heidelberg, Germany Institute of Environmental Physics, Bremen, Germany Center for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, UK Received: 18 March 2009 – Accepted: 16 April 2009 – Published: 30 April 2009 Correspondence to: T. Marbach (marbach@mpch-mainz.mpg.de) Published by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union.

Biomass burning emissions from satellite observations: synergistic use of formaldehyde (HCHO), fire counts, and surface temperature

Satellite observations provide unique opportunities for the identification of trace gas sources on a global scale. We present case studies for the synergistic use of satellite observations by comparing formaldehyde (HCHO) time series with fire count measurements as well as with surface temperature to identify the tropospheric sources of HCHO. The fire counts and temperature are taken as proxy for biomass burning events and vegetation activity, respectively. Both are sources of HCHO, either direct or trough photochemical oxidation of non-methane hydrocarbons (e.g. biogenic isoprene emissions). Formaldehyde time series are derived from satellite observations made by the GOME instrument. This instrument provides almost 8 years of continuous HCHO global observations, which constitute an ideal case to calculate time series over specific regions for various trace gases. Nine regions have been selected to investigate the influence of fire counts (biomass burning proxy) and the temperature (vegetation activity proxy) on the HCHO tropospheric columns. The chosen time series has a length of 6 years (from July 1996 to June 2002). The results show that biogenic sources of HCHO are in many cases the strongest HCHO sources. For example over south east of the USA, the correlation with temperature was very high indicating a strong biogenic source of HCHO (through isoprene emissions). The biomass burning source typically shows more pronounced seasonal patterns or is even of sporadic nature. Over the Amazon region, the correlation with fires is high indicating that in this area most of the HCHO is caused by biomass burning. In several other regions for both sources moderate correlation coefficients were found.

Global Monitoring of Atmospheric Trace Gases, Clouds and Aerosols from UV/vis/NIR Satellite Instruments: Currents Status and Near Future Perspectives

A new generation of UV/vis/near‐IR satellite instruments like GOME (since 1995), SCIAMACHY (since 2002), OMI (since 2004), and GOME‐2 (since 2006) allows to measure several important stratospheric and tropospheric trace gases like O_3, NO_2, OClO, HCHO, SO_2, BrO, and H_2O as well as clouds and aerosols from space. Because of its extended spectral range, the SCIAMACHY instrument also allows the retrieval of Greenhouse gases (CO_2, CH_4) and CO in the near IR. Almost all of the tropospheric trace gases are observed by these instruments for the first time. From satellite data it is possible to investigate the temporal and spatial variation. Also different sources can be characterised and quantified. The derived global distributions can serve as input and for the validation of atmospheric models. Here we give an overview on the current status of these new instruments and data products and their recent applications to various atmospheric and oceanic phenomena.

Relationship between ATSR fire counts and CO vertical column densities retrieved from SCIAMACHY onboard ENVISAT

SCIAMACHY (Scanning Imaging Absorption spectroMeter for Atmospheric ChartographY) is the first instrument to allow retrieval of CO by measuring absorption in the near infrared from reflected and scattered sunlight instead of from thermal emission. Thus, in contrast to thermal-infrared satellites (MOPITT), SCIAMACHY is highly sensitive to the lower layers of the troposphere where the sources, such as biomass burning, are located, and where the bulk of the CO is usually found. In many regions of the world, the burning of vegetation has a repeating seasonal pattern, but the amount of CO emitted from biomass burning varies considerably from place to place. Here we present a study on the relationship between fire counts and CO vertical column densities (VCD) in different regions. These results are compared with the CO VCD from MOPITT, aerosol index, and NO2 tropospheric VCD (TVCD) from SCIAMACHY, and the coupled chemistry climate model (CCM) ECHAM5/MESSY.