Advancing Our Observing Capacity of GHG through Technology and Public/Private Partnerships

For decades, our understanding of the carbon cycle has relied on a limited network of direct and remote sensing systems to measure atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHGs). This has allowed for a broad understanding of both natural and human-caused sources and sinks of GHGs. However, this network is inadequate to monitor the subtle emission changes resulting from climate change, mitigation efforts, and interventions. Moving forward, new technologies, combined with existing ones, will need to be enhanced through public-private partnerships to build a network capable of verifying GHG emissions and uptake from global to local scales.

The recent collaboration between NOAA and United Airlines exemplifies the growing partnerships with the private sector to enhance GHG observation. By leveraging commercial aircraft flights, United Airlines is providing a platform that enables up to eight atmospheric profiles daily at a fraction (1%) of the cost of similar research aircraft.

The low cost and increased frequency of these observations are further enhanced by the opportunity to sample large metropolitan areas frequently visited by mid-size aircraft like the Boeing 737. These profiles bridge the gap between ground-based direct measurements and satellite-based remote measurements, essential for monitoring GHG emissions across all scales.

This talk provides an overview and update of global efforts to leverage diverse platforms and new technologies to enhance our capacity for GHG observation.