TES provides significant constraints on surface CO₂ fluxes

TES CO₂ and validation data near Mauna Loa

Problem: Distribution of free Troposphere CO₂ is a significant uncertainty in estimating "Top-Down" CO₂ surface fluxes owing to transport and mixing errors. The TES sensitivity to lower tropospheric CO₂ provides significant constraints on surface CO₂ fluxes.

• Monthly averaged TES CO₂ is consistent with validation data after applying the TES observation operator to account for sensitivity
• Sensitivity to CO₂ from 850 to 200 hPa with peak sensitivity at 500 hPa
• 1.5ppm error for 15^ox15^ox1month average

TES CO₂ data are being used to estimate CO₂ surface fluxes

Stephens et al., 2007, Science
Kulawik et al., Atmos. Chem. Phys. Disc., 2010
Nassar et al., AGU Presentation 2010

3.2010