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Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
Since the Industrial Revolution, our atmosphere has experienced a dramatic increase in the concentrations of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane. These rising concentrations are disrupting Earth's energy balance, driving global climate change.
At the Paris climate conference, nations worldwide agreed that reducing greenhouse gas emissions is crucial to limiting global warming. To ensure these reduction efforts are effective, and to better understand our planet's carbon cycle, we need precise measurements of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Technique of ground-based infrared remote sensing
One way to track the atmospheric concentrations of these gases is ground-based infrared remote sensing.
This technique captures direct sunlight using a solar tracker – motorized mirrors that follow the sun's path across the sky. The mirrors of the tracker send the sunlight into a specialized instrument called a Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer.
It identifies greenhouse gases by their unique infrared light absorption fingerprint in the infrared spectrum. From the intensity of these fingerprint signals, the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the air column stretching from the ground to the top of the atmosphere can be determined.
Mobile measurement platform
To expand this crucial monitoring to remote regions, BIRA-IASB has developed a mobile measurement platform. This compact system combines a miniature solar tracker with a small low-resolution FTIR spectrometer, housed in a temperature-controlled and waterproof enclosure that operates reliably from tropical heat to arctic cold.
The system works automatically whenever sunlight is available and sends data back to the institute via digital data networks. Thanks to its low power consumption, it can run on solar panels and batteries in remote locations. We are preparing the deployment of these systems in Brazil, Congo, and India.
The platform's portability also makes it invaluable for measuring urban and industrial emissions in Europe. By positioning several comparable systems around cities or industrial areas during a short-term campaign, scientists can compare greenhouse gas concentrations between the upwind and downwind locations.
These measurements reveal concentration gradients from which- together with meteorological information (especially wind) - the total emissions from these areas can be calculated. In April and May of 2024, such a campaign was carried out around the city and port of Antwerp using our mobile FTIR system and three other instruments from partner institutes.
