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There is already a terrestrial CO2 measuring network of sensors being built, see the BeaCO2n net [1]. While coverage is sparse so far, it could be greatly enha

There is already a terrestrial CO2 measuring network of sensors being built, see the BeaCO2n net [1]. While coverage is sparse so far, it could be greatly enhanced, at cost likely to be cheaper than a constellation of satellites. I'll be watching these projects as I was contemplating setting up my own amateur atmospheric CO2 measuring station, a not-so-simple task once you consider sensor accuracy and periodic calibration. [1] http://beacon.berkeley.edu/about/ http://beacon.berkeley.edu/about/

TeMPOraL 7y ago
There's plenty of monitoring networks around the world of varying quality and coverage; they're usually focused on air quality though. That said, I can't see how making adequate ground station coverage could ever be cheaper than a satellite constellation. Ground stations are essentially points on the ground; you'd need a really dense network. The best way to do that would probably be to build CO₂ sensors into cars or smartphones - and still, you'll quite likely exclude a lot of the more interesting (read: polluting) places. That's before considering continuous maintenance and ensuring availability of the data. Satellite measurements may be less precise, but they are consistent and cover the ground more-less uniformly, regardless of what infrastructure is on the ground. It also sidesteps coordinating with individuals and countries. Finally, a satellite sees all; ground stations only see what's at the ground level.
mturmon 7y ago
One CO2 monitoring network that already exists and is mature is Aeronet, which has around 30 sites. The network is used to validate the CO2 satellite data we have now, including NASAs OCO-2. https://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/12/169/2019/amt-12-169-2019.pdf https://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/12/169/2019/amt-12-169-2019....
- mturmon 7y ago
  Argh! Correct network for CO2 validation is actually TCCON. Aeronet is a related set of in situ measurements, in some cases collocated with TCCON sites.

TeMPOraL 7y ago

There's plenty of monitoring networks around the world of varying quality and coverage; they're usually focused on air quality though. That said, I can't see how making adequate ground station coverage could ever be cheaper than a satellite constellation. Ground stations are essentially points on the ground; you'd need a really dense network. The best way to do that would probably be to build CO₂ sensors into cars or smartphones - and still, you'll quite likely exclude a lot of the more interesting (read: polluting) places. That's before considering continuous maintenance and ensuring availability of the data. Satellite measurements may be less precise, but they are consistent and cover the ground more-less uniformly, regardless of what infrastructure is on the ground. It also sidesteps coordinating with individuals and countries. Finally, a satellite sees all; ground stations only see what's at the ground level.

mturmon 7y ago

One CO2 monitoring network that already exists and is mature is Aeronet, which has around 30 sites. The network is used to validate the CO2 satellite data we have now, including NASAs OCO-2. https://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/12/169/2019/amt-12-169-2019.pdf https://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/12/169/2019/amt-12-169-2019....

mturmon 7y ago
Argh! Correct network for CO2 validation is actually TCCON. Aeronet is a related set of in situ measurements, in some cases collocated with TCCON sites.