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First Satellite Observations of Lower Tropospheric Ammonia and MethanolThe Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES) on the EOS Aura satellite makes global measurements of infrared radiances which are used to derive profiles of species such as O3, CO, H2O, HDO and CH4 as routine standard products. In addition, TES has a variety of special modes that provide denser spatial mapping over a limited geographical area. A continuous-coverage mode (called ''transect'', about 460 km long) has now been used to detect additional molecules indicative of regional air pollution. On 10 July 2007 at about 05:37 UTC (13:24 LMST) TES conducted such a transect observation over the Beijing area in northeast China. Examination of the residual spectral radiances following the retrieval of the TES standard products revealed surprisingly strong features attributable to enhanced concentrations of ammonia (NH3) and methanol (CH3OH), well above the normal background levels. This is the first time that these molecules have been detected in space-based nadir viewing measurements that penetrate into the lower atmosphere.
Document ID
20080032382
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Beer, Reinhard
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Shephard, Mark W.
(Atmospheric and Environmental Research, Inc. Lexington, MA, United States)
Kulawik, Susan S.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Clough, Shepard A.
(Clough Radiation Associates, LLC Lexington, MA, United States)
Eldering, Annmarie
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Bowman, Kevin W.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Sander, Stanley P.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Fisher, Brendan M.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Payne, Vivienne H.
(Atmospheric and Environmental Research, Inc. Lexington, MA, United States)
Luo, Mingzhao
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Osterman, Gregory B.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Worden, John R.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
May 1, 2008
Publication Information
Publication: Geophysical Research Letters
Publisher: American Geophysical Union
Volume: 35
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
methanol
Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES)
ammonia

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