Articles | Volume 9, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-9-875-2016
© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-9-875-2016
© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Methods for assessment of models
| 
01 Mar 2016
Methods for assessment of models |
| 01 Mar 2016
Representativeness errors in comparing chemistry transport and chemistry climate models with satellite UV–Vis tropospheric column retrievals
Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, De Bilt, the
Netherlands
Wageningen University, Meteorology and Air Quality
department, Wageningen, the Netherlands
G. C. M. Vinken
Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the
Netherlands
H. J. Eskes
Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, De Bilt, the
Netherlands
Related authors
Juliëtte C. S. Anema, K. Folkert Boersma, Lieuwe G. Tilstra, Ruben van 't Loo, and Olaf N. E. Tuinder
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 18, 5643–5661, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-5643-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-5643-2026, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
The GOME-2 series offers a long solar-induced fluorescence (SIF) record, but sensor-specific instrumental artefacts diverge intersensor observations. We developed a combined GOME-2 SIF record (2007–2023) from GOME-2A and GOME-2B SIF using the SIFTER v3 algorithm, which corrects these artefacts. Both records show strong spatial and temporal coherence. A framework is provided to detect and, if needed, correct intersensor offsets, supporting consistent long-term monitoring of vegetation dynamics.
Herizo Narivelo, Bastien Sauvage, Klaas Folkert Boersma, Isabelle De Smedt, Isidora Anglou, Michel Van Roozendael, Eric Le Flochmoën, and Brice Barret
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1652, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1652, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
Tropospheric ozone is a key component of air pollution; it is produced by the photochemical oxidation of volatile organic compounds in the presence of nitrogen oxides. Using satellite observations, we determine the best combination of emission inventories for biomass-burning and anthropogenic sources, we analyse the impact of the evolution of two surface emissions in tropics on tropospheric ozone and its chemical regime, using numerical simulations over the last few decades.
Bas Mijling, Benjamin Afotey, Tim Henrik Eckert, Magdalena Mairhofer, Águeda Gil Pascual, Emmanuel Yuorkuu, Philip Darko, Phiona Amakah, Klaas Folkert Boersma, and Prince Junior Asilevi
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 19, 3063–3081, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-3063-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-3063-2026, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
We established the first Palmes tube laboratory in Sub-Saharan Africa to monitor urban nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in Kumasi, Ghana. Our measurements reveal high surface NO2 levels that satellites underestimate, showing the importance of local measurements. This low-cost, scalable approach provides continuous local data and improves the interpretation of satellite observations, helping policymakers better understand and manage air quality in tropical cities.
Felipe Cifuentes, Henk Eskes, Ankie Piters, Julian Gomez, John Douros, Gaia Pinardi, Martina M. Friedrich, Enrico Dammers, Manuel Gebetsberger, and K. Folkert Boersma
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 19, 2437–2477, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-2437-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-2437-2026, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
Satellite NO2 data are essential for monitoring air pollution, but they are affected by several sources of uncertainty. This study evaluates the major error contributors in TROPOMI (TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument) NO2 retrievals by analyzing each retrieval step and comparing with ground-based observations. Key findings include biases in the separation of stratospheric and tropospheric NO2, representation and smoothing errors, and substantial variability among the ground-based instruments used for validation.
Alba Mols, Klaas Folkert Boersma, Hugo Denier van der Gon, and Maarten Krol
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 26, 1497–1513, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-1497-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-1497-2026, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
We created a new method to estimate city air pollution (NOx emissions) using satellite data. Testing showed our approach works well to track how pollution spreads in urban areas. By combining observations with prior knowledge, we improved the accuracy of emission estimates. Applying this method in Paris, we found emissions were 9 % lower than expected and dropped significantly during COVID-19 lockdowns. Our method offers a reliable way to monitor pollution and support environmental policies.
Isolde Glissenaar, Klaas Folkert Boersma, Isidora Anglou, Pieter Rijsdijk, Tijl Verhoelst, Steven Compernolle, Gaia Pinardi, Jean-Christopher Lambert, Michel Van Roozendael, and Henk Eskes
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 17, 4627–4650, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-17-4627-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-17-4627-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We developed a new global dataset of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels in the lower atmosphere, using data from TROPOMI for 2018–2021. This dataset offers improved accuracy and detail compared to earlier versions, meeting high international standards for climate data. By refining how measurement errors are calculated and reduced over time and space, we provide clearer insights into pollution patterns. This work supports better air quality monitoring and informs actions to address pollution globally.
Suvarna Fadnavis, Yasin Elshorbany, Jerald Ziemke, Brice Barret, Alexandru Rap, P. R. Satheesh Chandran, Richard J. Pope, Vijay Sagar, Domenico Taraborrelli, Eric Le Flochmoen, Juan Cuesta, Catherine Wespes, Folkert Boersma, Isolde Glissenaar, Isabelle De Smedt, Michel Van Roozendael, Hervé Petetin, and Isidora Anglou
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 8229–8254, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-8229-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-8229-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Satellites and model simulations show enhancement in tropospheric ozone, which is highly impacted by human-produced nitrous oxides compared to volatile organic compounds. The increased amount of ozone enhances ozone radiative forcing. The ozone enhancement and associated radiative forcing are the highest over South and East Asia. The emissions of nitrous oxides show a higher influence on shifting ozone photochemical regimes than volatile organic compounds.
Juliëtte C. S. Anema, K. Folkert Boersma, Lieuwe G. Tilstra, Olaf N. E. Tuinder, and Willem W. Verstraeten
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 18, 1961–1979, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-1961-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-1961-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Long-term records of plant fluorescence offer vital insights into changing vegetation activity. The GOME-2A sensor provides extensive global observations but suffers from calibration and instrument degradation, which affects data consistency. This study presents the SIFTER v3 algorithm, which effectively resolves these issues and includes other improvements, resulting in robust, accurate, and consistent GOME-2A fluorescence measurements from 2007 to 2017.
Qianqian Zhang, K. Folkert Boersma, Chiel van der Laan, Alba Mols, Bin Zhao, Shengyue Li, and Yuepeng Pan
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 3313–3326, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3313-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3313-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Accurate NOx emission estimates are required to better understand air pollution. This study investigates and demonstrates the ability of the superposition column model in combination with TROPOMI tropospheric NO2 column data to estimate city-scale NOx emissions and lifetimes and their variabilities. The results of this work nevertheless confirm the strength of the superposition column model in estimating urban NOx emissions with reasonable accuracy.
Felipe Cifuentes, Henk Eskes, Enrico Dammers, Charlotte Bryan, and Folkert Boersma
Geosci. Model Dev., 18, 621–649, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-621-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-621-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We tested the capability of the flux divergence approach (FDA) to reproduce known NOx emissions using synthetic NO2 satellite column retrievals from high-resolution model simulations. The FDA accurately reproduced NOx emissions when column observations were limited to the boundary layer and when the variability of the NO2 lifetime, the NOx : NO2 ratio, and NO2 profile shapes were correctly modeled. This introduces strong model dependency, reducing the simplicity of the original FDA formulation.
Pieter Rijsdijk, Henk Eskes, Arlene Dingemans, K. Folkert Boersma, Takashi Sekiya, Kazuyuki Miyazaki, and Sander Houweling
Geosci. Model Dev., 18, 483–509, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-483-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-483-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Clustering high-resolution satellite observations into superobservations improves model validation and data assimilation applications. In our paper, we derive quantitative uncertainties for satellite NO2 column observations based on knowledge of the retrievals, including a detailed analysis of spatial error correlations and representativity errors. The superobservations and uncertainty estimates are tested in a global chemical data assimilation system and are found to improve the forecasts.
Tong Sha, Siyu Yang, Qingcai Chen, Liangqing Li, Xiaoyan Ma, Yan-Lin Zhang, Zhaozhong Feng, K. Folkert Boersma, and Jun Wang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 8441–8455, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-8441-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-8441-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Using an updated soil reactive nitrogen emission scheme in the Unified Inputs for Weather Research and Forecasting coupled with Chemistry (UI-WRF-Chem) model, we investigate the role of soil NO and HONO (Nr) emissions in air quality and temperature in North China. Contributions of soil Nr emissions to O3 and secondary pollutants are revealed, exceeding effects of soil NOx or HONO emission. Soil Nr emissions play an important role in mitigating O3 pollution and addressing climate change.
Maarten Krol, Bart van Stratum, Isidora Anglou, and Klaas Folkert Boersma
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 8243–8262, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-8243-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-8243-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This paper presents detailed plume simulations of nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide that are emitted from four large industrial facilities world-wide. Results from the high-resolution simulations that include atmospheric chemistry are compared to nitrogen dioxide observations from satellites. We find good performance of the model and show that common assumptions that are used in simplified models need revision. This work is important for the monitoring of emissions using satellite data.
Juliëtte C. S. Anema, Klaas Folkert Boersma, Piet Stammes, Gerbrand Koren, William Woodgate, Philipp Köhler, Christian Frankenberg, and Jacqui Stol
Biogeosciences, 21, 2297–2311, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-2297-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-2297-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
To keep the Paris agreement goals within reach, negative emissions are necessary. They can be achieved with mitigation techniques, such as reforestation, which remove CO2 from the atmosphere. While governments have pinned their hopes on them, there is not yet a good set of tools to objectively determine whether negative emissions do what they promise. Here we show how satellite measurements of plant fluorescence are useful in detecting carbon uptake due to reforestation and vegetation regrowth.
Tobias Christoph Valentin Werner Riess, Klaas Folkert Boersma, Ward Van Roy, Jos de Laat, Enrico Dammers, and Jasper van Vliet
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 5287–5304, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-5287-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-5287-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Satellite retrievals of trace gases require prior knowledge of the vertical distribution of the pollutant, which is usually obtained from models. Using aircraft-measured vertical NO2 profiles over the North Sea in summer 2021, we evaluate the Transport Model 5 profiles used in the TROPOMI NO2 retrieval. We conclude that driven by the low horizontal resolution and the overestimated vertical mixing, resulting NO2 columns are 20 % too low. This has important implications for emission estimates.
John Douros, Henk Eskes, Jos van Geffen, K. Folkert Boersma, Steven Compernolle, Gaia Pinardi, Anne-Marlene Blechschmidt, Vincent-Henri Peuch, Augustin Colette, and Pepijn Veefkind
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 509–534, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-509-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-509-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We focus on the challenges associated with comparing atmospheric composition models with satellite products such as tropospheric NO2 columns. The aim is to highlight the methodological difficulties and propose sound ways of doing such comparisons. Building on the comparisons, a new satellite product is proposed and made available, which takes advantage of higher-resolution, regional atmospheric modelling to improve estimates of troposheric NO2 columns over Europe.
Viral Shah, Daniel J. Jacob, Ruijun Dang, Lok N. Lamsal, Sarah A. Strode, Stephen D. Steenrod, K. Folkert Boersma, Sebastian D. Eastham, Thibaud M. Fritz, Chelsea Thompson, Jeff Peischl, Ilann Bourgeois, Ilana B. Pollack, Benjamin A. Nault, Ronald C. Cohen, Pedro Campuzano-Jost, Jose L. Jimenez, Simone T. Andersen, Lucy J. Carpenter, Tomás Sherwen, and Mat J. Evans
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 1227–1257, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-1227-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-1227-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
NOx in the free troposphere (above 2 km) affects global tropospheric chemistry and the retrieval and interpretation of satellite NO2 measurements. We evaluate free tropospheric NOx in global atmospheric chemistry models and find that recycling NOx from its reservoirs over the oceans is faster than that simulated in the models, resulting in increases in simulated tropospheric ozone and OH. Over the U.S., free tropospheric NO2 contributes the majority of the tropospheric NO2 column in summer.
Qianqian Zhang, K. Folkert Boersma, Bin Zhao, Henk Eskes, Cuihong Chen, Haotian Zheng, and Xingying Zhang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 551–563, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-551-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-551-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We developed an improved superposition column model and used the latest released (v2.3.1) TROPOMI satellite NO2 observations to estimate daily city-scale NOx and CO2 emissions. The results are verified against bottom-up emissions and OCO-2 XCO2 observations. We obtained the day-to-day variation of city NOx and CO2 emissions, allowing policymakers to gain real-time information on spatial–temporal emission patterns and the effectiveness of carbon and nitrogen regulation in urban environments.
Srijana Lama, Sander Houweling, K. Folkert Boersma, Ilse Aben, Hugo A. C. Denier van der Gon, and Maarten C. Krol
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 16053–16071, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-16053-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-16053-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Hydroxyl radical (OH) is the important chemical species that determines the lifetime of some greenhouse gases and trace gases. OH plays a vital role in air pollution chemistry. OH has a short lifetime and is extremely difficult to measure directly. OH concentrations derived from the chemistry transport model (CTM) have uncertainties of >50 %. Therefore, in this study, OH is derived indirectly using satellite date in urban plumes.
Jos van Geffen, Henk Eskes, Steven Compernolle, Gaia Pinardi, Tijl Verhoelst, Jean-Christopher Lambert, Maarten Sneep, Mark ter Linden, Antje Ludewig, K. Folkert Boersma, and J. Pepijn Veefkind
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 2037–2060, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-2037-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-2037-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is one of the main data products measured by the Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) on the Sentinel-5 Precursor (S5P) satellite. This study describes improvements in the TROPOMI NO2 retrieval leading to version v2.2, operational since 1 July 2021. It compares results with previous versions v1.2–v1.4 and with Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) and ground-based measurements.
Tobias Christoph Valentin Werner Riess, Klaas Folkert Boersma, Jasper van Vliet, Wouter Peters, Maarten Sneep, Henk Eskes, and Jos van Geffen
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 1415–1438, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-1415-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-1415-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
This paper reports on improved monitoring of ship nitrogen oxide emissions by TROPOMI. With its fantastic resolution we can identify lanes of ship nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution not detected from space before. The quality of TROPOMI NO2 data over sea is improved further by recent upgrades in cloud retrievals and the use of sun glint scenes. Lastly, we study the impact of COVID-19 on ship NO2 in European seas and compare the found reductions to emission estimates gained from ship-specific data.
Auke J. Visser, Laurens N. Ganzeveld, Ignacio Goded, Maarten C. Krol, Ivan Mammarella, Giovanni Manca, and K. Folkert Boersma
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 18393–18411, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-18393-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-18393-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Dry deposition is an important sink for tropospheric ozone that affects ecosystem carbon uptake, but process understanding remains incomplete. We apply a common deposition representation in atmospheric chemistry models and a multi-layer canopy model to multi-year ozone deposition observations. The multi-layer canopy model performs better on diurnal timescales compared to the common approach, leading to a substantially improved simulation of ozone deposition and vegetation ozone impact metrics.
Juliëtte C. S. Anema, K. Folkert Boersma, Lieuwe G. Tilstra, Ruben van 't Loo, and Olaf N. E. Tuinder
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 18, 5643–5661, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-5643-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-5643-2026, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
The GOME-2 series offers a long solar-induced fluorescence (SIF) record, but sensor-specific instrumental artefacts diverge intersensor observations. We developed a combined GOME-2 SIF record (2007–2023) from GOME-2A and GOME-2B SIF using the SIFTER v3 algorithm, which corrects these artefacts. Both records show strong spatial and temporal coherence. A framework is provided to detect and, if needed, correct intersensor offsets, supporting consistent long-term monitoring of vegetation dynamics.
Tyler Wizenberg, Enrico Dammers, Arjo Segers, Mark W. Shephard, Pierre Coheur, Lieven Clarisse, Martin Van Damme, Henk Eskes, Roy Wichink Kruit, Shelley van der Graaf, and Martijn Schaap
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 26, 9589–9623, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-9589-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-9589-2026, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
We combined five years of satellite data on ammonia and nitrogen dioxide concentrations with a regional model to better estimate nitrogen emissions and deposition in the Netherlands. This improved the accuracy of pollution maps and trends, especially in agricultural regions. Our approach helps identify when and where emissions are highest, supporting better air quality management and environmental protection by showing the benefits of using multiple complimentary satellite datasets together.
Jos van Geffen, Henk Eskes, Maarten Sneep, Mark ter Linden, and J. Pepijn Veefkind
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 19, 4233–4254, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-4233-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-4233-2026, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
The Fraunhofer absorption feature at 430 nm, which varies in strength with the solar activity cycle influences the retrieval of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from from Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) and Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) measurements. This study describes the benefits of removing the wavelength range 428–433 nm from the retrieval, which is implemented for TROPOMI retrievals as of v2.9.1.
Herizo Narivelo, Bastien Sauvage, Klaas Folkert Boersma, Isabelle De Smedt, Isidora Anglou, Michel Van Roozendael, Eric Le Flochmoën, and Brice Barret
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1652, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1652, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
Tropospheric ozone is a key component of air pollution; it is produced by the photochemical oxidation of volatile organic compounds in the presence of nitrogen oxides. Using satellite observations, we determine the best combination of emission inventories for biomass-burning and anthropogenic sources, we analyse the impact of the evolution of two surface emissions in tropics on tropospheric ozone and its chemical regime, using numerical simulations over the last few decades.
Jinkyul Choi, Kazuyuki Miyazaki, Takashi Sekiya, Jinhyeok Yu, Shin-Ya Ogino, Henk Eskes, Pieter Rijdijk, Ryan Bennett, Anke Roiger, Leon Knez, Glenn S. Diskin, Jason A. Miech, Joshua P. DiGangi, Yonghoon Choi, Alessandro Franchin, Changmin Cho, Eric C. Apel, Louisa K. Emmons, Nattamon Maneenoi, Jason M. St. Clair, Reem A. Hannun, Glenn M. Wolfe, Erin Delaria, Abby Sebol, Donald R. Blake, Monica Crippa, Rachel M. Hoesly, Steven J. Smith, Jung-Hun Woo, Le Kuai, and Ronald Macatangay
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-2380, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-2380, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
Asia produces half of the world's air pollution, yet emission estimates from different sources disagree widely. We assimilated satellite observations of six pollutant species to correct both concentrations and emissions. Aircraft measurements from a 2024 NASA campaign across four Asian countries confirmed the improvements. Our results reveal underreported emissions in some countries, overestimated vegetation emissions, unresolved fire estimates, and weather control on cross-border pollution.
Bas Mijling, Benjamin Afotey, Tim Henrik Eckert, Magdalena Mairhofer, Águeda Gil Pascual, Emmanuel Yuorkuu, Philip Darko, Phiona Amakah, Klaas Folkert Boersma, and Prince Junior Asilevi
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 19, 3063–3081, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-3063-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-3063-2026, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
We established the first Palmes tube laboratory in Sub-Saharan Africa to monitor urban nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in Kumasi, Ghana. Our measurements reveal high surface NO2 levels that satellites underestimate, showing the importance of local measurements. This low-cost, scalable approach provides continuous local data and improves the interpretation of satellite observations, helping policymakers better understand and manage air quality in tropical cities.
Takashi Sekiya, Kazuyuki Miyazaki, Henk Eskes, Pieter Rijsdijk, Kengo Sudo, and Yugo Kanaya
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1681, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1681, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
This study evaluates the synergistic effects of satellite aerosol optical depth (AOD) and trace gas data assimilation on aerosol composition analyses. The simultaneous data assimilation (DA) improved the PM2.5 model biases in Northeast Asia compared to conventional DA run that separately assimilate AOD satellite observations. This coupled aerosol and trace gas DA framework offers significant advantages for improving global aerosol composition analyses.
Yutao Chen, Ronald J. van der A, Jieying Ding, Henk Eskes, Felipe Cifuentes, and Pieternel F. Levelt
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 19, 2737–2750, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-2737-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-2737-2026, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
The SO2 gridded point emissions calculated from satellite measurements appear spread out around the source. This is inherent to the inversion method and the resolution of the satellite measurements. We made a new sharpening algorithm to reverse the spreading and make the emission signal clearer. With this method, the effective resolution is improved. Known sources can be located more precisely, and new ones can be found from space. The same approach also works for other gases like NOx.
Felipe Cifuentes, Henk Eskes, Ankie Piters, Julian Gomez, John Douros, Gaia Pinardi, Martina M. Friedrich, Enrico Dammers, Manuel Gebetsberger, and K. Folkert Boersma
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 19, 2437–2477, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-2437-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-2437-2026, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
Satellite NO2 data are essential for monitoring air pollution, but they are affected by several sources of uncertainty. This study evaluates the major error contributors in TROPOMI (TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument) NO2 retrievals by analyzing each retrieval step and comparing with ground-based observations. Key findings include biases in the separation of stratospheric and tropospheric NO2, representation and smoothing errors, and substantial variability among the ground-based instruments used for validation.
Alba Mols, Klaas Folkert Boersma, Hugo Denier van der Gon, and Maarten Krol
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 26, 1497–1513, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-1497-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-1497-2026, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
We created a new method to estimate city air pollution (NOx emissions) using satellite data. Testing showed our approach works well to track how pollution spreads in urban areas. By combining observations with prior knowledge, we improved the accuracy of emission estimates. Applying this method in Paris, we found emissions were 9 % lower than expected and dropped significantly during COVID-19 lockdowns. Our method offers a reliable way to monitor pollution and support environmental policies.
Simon Chabrillat, Samuel Rémy, Quentin Errera, Vincent Huijnen, Christine Bingen, Jonas Debosscher, François Hendrick, Swen Metzger, Adrien Mora, Daniele Minganti, Marc Op de beek, Léa Reisenfeld, Jason E. Williams, Henk Eskes, and Johannes Flemming
Geosci. Model Dev., 18, 8973–9014, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-8973-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-8973-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We document the forecasts of the composition of the stratosphere by the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service. The model's predictions are compared with satellite measurements over a recent period, during polar ozone depletion events, and after the Mount Pinatubo volcanic eruption. The system performs well for sulfate aerosols, ozone and several other key gases but not as well for several nitrogen-containing gases. Chemical processes in aerosols and polar clouds should be improved.
Augustin Colette, Gaëlle Collin, François Besson, Etienne Blot, Vincent Guidard, Frédérik Meleux, Adrien Royer, Valentin Petiot, Claire Miller, Oihana Fermond, Alizé Jeant, Mario Adani, Joaquim Arteta, Anna Benedictow, Robert Bergström, Dene Bowdalo, Jorgen Brandt, Gino Briganti, Ana C. Carvalho, Jesper Heile Christensen, Florian Couvidat, Ilaria D'Elia, Massimo D'Isidoro, Hugo Denier van der Gon, Gaël Descombes, Enza Di Tomaso, John Douros, Jeronimo Escribano, Henk Eskes, Hilde Fagerli, Yalda Fatahi, Johannes Flemming, Elmar Friese, Lise Frohn, Michael Gauss, Camilla Geels, Guido Guarnieri, Marc Guevara, Antoine Guion, Jonathan Guth, Risto Hänninen, Kaj Hansen, Ulas Im, Ruud Janssen, Marine Jeoffrion, Mathieu Joly, Luke Jones, Oriol Jorba, Evgeni Kadantsev, Michael Kahnert, Jacek W. Kaminski, Rostislav Kouznetsov, Richard Kranenburg, Jeroen Kuenen, Anne Caroline Lange, Joachim Langner, Victor Lannuque, Francesca Macchia, Astrid Manders, Mihaela Mircea, Agnes Nyiri, Miriam Olid, Carlos Pérez García-Pando, Yuliia Palamarchuk, Antonio Piersanti, Blandine Raux, Miha Razinger, Lennard Robertson, Arjo Segers, Martijn Schaap, Pilvi Siljamo, David Simpson, Mikhail Sofiev, Anders Stangel, Joanna Struzewska, Carles Tena, Renske Timmermans, Thanos Tsikerdekis, Svetlana Tsyro, Svyatoslav Tyuryakov, Anthony Ung, Andreas Uppstu, Alvaro Valdebenito, Peter van Velthoven, Lina Vitali, Zhuyun Ye, Vincent-Henri Peuch, and Laurence Rouïl
Geosci. Model Dev., 18, 6835–6883, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-6835-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-6835-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service – Regional Production delivers daily forecasts, analyses, and reanalyses of air quality in Europe. The service relies on a distributed modelling production by 11 leading European modelling teams following stringent requirements with an operational design that has no equivalent in the world. All the products are free, open, and quality-assured and disseminated with a high level of reliability.
Bas Mijling, Henk Eskes, Sascha Hofmann, Pau Moreno, David García Falin, and María Encarnación de Vega Pastor
Geosci. Model Dev., 18, 6439–6460, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-6439-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-6439-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Given the serious health risks of urban air pollution, monitoring local pollution levels is crucial. The Retina v2 algorithm creates high-resolution pollution maps by integrating satellite and local measurements with an air quality model. Easily portable to other cities, it balances accuracy with low computational demands, matching or outperforming complex dispersion models and data-heavy machine learning. Satellite data proves especially valuable in cities with sparse or no monitoring networks.
Isolde Glissenaar, Klaas Folkert Boersma, Isidora Anglou, Pieter Rijsdijk, Tijl Verhoelst, Steven Compernolle, Gaia Pinardi, Jean-Christopher Lambert, Michel Van Roozendael, and Henk Eskes
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 17, 4627–4650, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-17-4627-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-17-4627-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We developed a new global dataset of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels in the lower atmosphere, using data from TROPOMI for 2018–2021. This dataset offers improved accuracy and detail compared to earlier versions, meeting high international standards for climate data. By refining how measurement errors are calculated and reduced over time and space, we provide clearer insights into pollution patterns. This work supports better air quality monitoring and informs actions to address pollution globally.
Suvarna Fadnavis, Yasin Elshorbany, Jerald Ziemke, Brice Barret, Alexandru Rap, P. R. Satheesh Chandran, Richard J. Pope, Vijay Sagar, Domenico Taraborrelli, Eric Le Flochmoen, Juan Cuesta, Catherine Wespes, Folkert Boersma, Isolde Glissenaar, Isabelle De Smedt, Michel Van Roozendael, Hervé Petetin, and Isidora Anglou
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 8229–8254, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-8229-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-8229-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Satellites and model simulations show enhancement in tropospheric ozone, which is highly impacted by human-produced nitrous oxides compared to volatile organic compounds. The increased amount of ozone enhances ozone radiative forcing. The ozone enhancement and associated radiative forcing are the highest over South and East Asia. The emissions of nitrous oxides show a higher influence on shifting ozone photochemical regimes than volatile organic compounds.
Rimal Abeed, Audrey Fortems-Cheiney, Grégoire Broquet, Robin Plauchu, Isabelle Pison, Antoine Berchet, Elise Potier, Bo Zheng, Gaëlle Dufour, Adriana Coman, Dilek Savas, Guillaume Siour, Henk Eskes, Beatriz Revilla-Romero, Antony Delavois, and Philippe Ciais
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3329, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3329, 2025
Preprint archived
Short summary
Short summary
We investigate changes in air pollution from nitrogen oxides NOx (=NO+NO2) across Eastern China from 2019 to 2021, using a satellite-based modelling approach. Our results show a drop in pollution in 2020 in most provinces, and along the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor. The analysis also captures emission variations during the Lunar New Year. By estimating emissions at the provincial level, the study provides insights into how major events and policy measures influence local air quality.
Audrey Fortems-Cheiney, Grégoire Broquet, Elise Potier, Antoine Berchet, Isabelle Pison, Adrien Martinez, Robin Plauchu, Rimal Abeed, Aurélien Sicsik-Paré, Gaelle Dufour, Adriana Coman, Dilek Savas, Guillaume Siour, Henk Eskes, Hugo A. C. Denier van der Gon, and Stijn N. C. Dellaert
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 6047–6068, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-6047-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-6047-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study assesses the potential of the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) and the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) satellite observations to inform about the decrease in anthropogenic emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) in 2019 compared with 2005 at regional to national scales in Europe. Both the OMI and TROPOMI inversions show decreases in European NOx anthropogenic emission budgets in 2019 compared to 2005 but with different magnitudes.
Juliëtte C. S. Anema, K. Folkert Boersma, Lieuwe G. Tilstra, Olaf N. E. Tuinder, and Willem W. Verstraeten
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 18, 1961–1979, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-1961-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-1961-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Long-term records of plant fluorescence offer vital insights into changing vegetation activity. The GOME-2A sensor provides extensive global observations but suffers from calibration and instrument degradation, which affects data consistency. This study presents the SIFTER v3 algorithm, which effectively resolves these issues and includes other improvements, resulting in robust, accurate, and consistent GOME-2A fluorescence measurements from 2007 to 2017.
Qianqian Zhang, K. Folkert Boersma, Chiel van der Laan, Alba Mols, Bin Zhao, Shengyue Li, and Yuepeng Pan
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 3313–3326, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3313-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3313-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Accurate NOx emission estimates are required to better understand air pollution. This study investigates and demonstrates the ability of the superposition column model in combination with TROPOMI tropospheric NO2 column data to estimate city-scale NOx emissions and lifetimes and their variabilities. The results of this work nevertheless confirm the strength of the superposition column model in estimating urban NOx emissions with reasonable accuracy.
Yutao Chen, Ronald J. van der A, Jieying Ding, Henk Eskes, Jason E. Williams, Nicolas Theys, Athanasios Tsikerdekis, and Pieternel F. Levelt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 1851–1868, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-1851-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-1851-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
There is a lack of local SO2 top-down emission inventories in India. With the improvement in the divergence method and the derivation of SO2 local lifetime, gridded SO2 emissions over a large area can be estimated efficiently. This method can be applied to any region in the world to derive SO2 emissions. Especially for regions with high latitudes, our methodology has the potential to significantly improve the top-down derivation of SO2 emissions.
Felipe Cifuentes, Henk Eskes, Enrico Dammers, Charlotte Bryan, and Folkert Boersma
Geosci. Model Dev., 18, 621–649, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-621-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-621-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We tested the capability of the flux divergence approach (FDA) to reproduce known NOx emissions using synthetic NO2 satellite column retrievals from high-resolution model simulations. The FDA accurately reproduced NOx emissions when column observations were limited to the boundary layer and when the variability of the NO2 lifetime, the NOx : NO2 ratio, and NO2 profile shapes were correctly modeled. This introduces strong model dependency, reducing the simplicity of the original FDA formulation.
Pieter Rijsdijk, Henk Eskes, Arlene Dingemans, K. Folkert Boersma, Takashi Sekiya, Kazuyuki Miyazaki, and Sander Houweling
Geosci. Model Dev., 18, 483–509, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-483-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-483-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Clustering high-resolution satellite observations into superobservations improves model validation and data assimilation applications. In our paper, we derive quantitative uncertainties for satellite NO2 column observations based on knowledge of the retrievals, including a detailed analysis of spatial error correlations and representativity errors. The superobservations and uncertainty estimates are tested in a global chemical data assimilation system and are found to improve the forecasts.
Vitali Fioletov, Chris A. McLinden, Debora Griffin, Xiaoyi Zhao, and Henk Eskes
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 575–596, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-575-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-575-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Satellite data were used to estimate urban per capita emissions for 261 major cities worldwide. Three components in tropospheric NO2 data (background NO2, NO2 from urban sources, and NO2 from industrial point sources) were isolated, and then each of these components was analyzed separately. The largest per capita emissions were found in the Middle East and the smallest in India and southern Africa. Urban weekend emissions are 20 %–50 % less than workday emissions for all regions except China.
Jieying Ding, Ronald van der A, Henk Eskes, Enrico Dammers, Mark Shephard, Roy Wichink Kruit, Marc Guevara, and Leonor Tarrason
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 10583–10599, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-10583-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-10583-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Here we applied the existing Daily Emissions Constrained by Satellite Observations (DECSO) inversion algorithm to NH3 observations from the CrIS satellite instrument to estimate NH3 emissions. As NH3 in the atmosphere is influenced by NOx, we implemented DECSO to estimate NOx and NH3 emissions simultaneously. The emissions are derived over Europe for 2020 at a spatial resolution of 0.2° using daily observations from CrIS and TROPOMI. Results are compared to bottom-up emission inventories.
Mengyao Liu, Ronald van der A, Michiel van Weele, Lotte Bryan, Henk Eskes, Pepijn Veefkind, Yongxue Liu, Xiaojuan Lin, Jos de Laat, and Jieying Ding
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 5261–5277, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-5261-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-5261-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
A new divergence method was developed and applied to estimate methane emissions from TROPOMI observations over the Middle East, where it is typically challenging for a satellite to measure methane due to its complicated orography and surface albedo. Our results show the potential of TROPOMI to quantify methane emissions from various sources rather than big emitters from space after objectively excluding the artifacts in the retrieval.
Henk Eskes, Athanasios Tsikerdekis, Melanie Ades, Mihai Alexe, Anna Carlin Benedictow, Yasmine Bennouna, Lewis Blake, Idir Bouarar, Simon Chabrillat, Richard Engelen, Quentin Errera, Johannes Flemming, Sebastien Garrigues, Jan Griesfeller, Vincent Huijnen, Luka Ilić, Antje Inness, John Kapsomenakis, Zak Kipling, Bavo Langerock, Augustin Mortier, Mark Parrington, Isabelle Pison, Mikko Pitkänen, Samuel Remy, Andreas Richter, Anja Schoenhardt, Michael Schulz, Valerie Thouret, Thorsten Warneke, Christos Zerefos, and Vincent-Henri Peuch
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 9475–9514, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9475-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9475-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) provides global analyses and forecasts of aerosols and trace gases in the atmosphere. On 27 June 2023 a major upgrade, Cy48R1, became operational. Comparisons with in situ, surface remote sensing, aircraft, and balloon and satellite observations show that the new CAMS system is a significant improvement. The results quantify the skill of CAMS to forecast impactful events, such as wildfires, dust storms and air pollution peaks.
Tong Sha, Siyu Yang, Qingcai Chen, Liangqing Li, Xiaoyan Ma, Yan-Lin Zhang, Zhaozhong Feng, K. Folkert Boersma, and Jun Wang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 8441–8455, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-8441-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-8441-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Using an updated soil reactive nitrogen emission scheme in the Unified Inputs for Weather Research and Forecasting coupled with Chemistry (UI-WRF-Chem) model, we investigate the role of soil NO and HONO (Nr) emissions in air quality and temperature in North China. Contributions of soil Nr emissions to O3 and secondary pollutants are revealed, exceeding effects of soil NOx or HONO emission. Soil Nr emissions play an important role in mitigating O3 pollution and addressing climate change.
Maarten Krol, Bart van Stratum, Isidora Anglou, and Klaas Folkert Boersma
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 8243–8262, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-8243-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-8243-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This paper presents detailed plume simulations of nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide that are emitted from four large industrial facilities world-wide. Results from the high-resolution simulations that include atmospheric chemistry are compared to nitrogen dioxide observations from satellites. We find good performance of the model and show that common assumptions that are used in simplified models need revision. This work is important for the monitoring of emissions using satellite data.
Robin Plauchu, Audrey Fortems-Cheiney, Grégoire Broquet, Isabelle Pison, Antoine Berchet, Elise Potier, Gaëlle Dufour, Adriana Coman, Dilek Savas, Guillaume Siour, and Henk Eskes
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 8139–8163, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-8139-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-8139-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This study uses the Community Inversion Framework and CHIMERE model to assess the potential of TROPOMI-S5P PAL NO2 tropospheric column data to estimate NOx emissions in France (2019–2021). Results show a 3 % decrease in average emissions compared to the 2016 CAMS-REG/INS, lower than the 14 % decrease from CITEPA. The study highlights challenges in capturing emission anomalies due to limited data coverage and error levels but shows promise for local inventory improvements.
Ronald J. van der A, Jieying Ding, and Henk Eskes
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 7523–7534, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-7523-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-7523-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Using observations of the Sentinel-5P satellite and the latest version of the inversion algorithm DECSO, anthropogenic NOx emissions are derived for Europe for the years 2019–2022 with a spatial resolution of 0.2°. The results are compared with European emissions of the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service.
Enrico Dammers, Janot Tokaya, Christian Mielke, Kevin Hausmann, Debora Griffin, Chris McLinden, Henk Eskes, and Renske Timmermans
Geosci. Model Dev., 17, 4983–5007, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-4983-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-4983-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Nitrogen dioxide (NOx) is produced by sources such as industry and traffic and is directly linked to negative impacts on health and the environment. The current construction of emission inventories to keep track of NOx emissions is slow and time-consuming. Satellite measurements provide a way to quickly and independently estimate emissions. In this study, we apply a consistent methodology to derive NOx emissions over Germany and illustrate the value of having such a method for fast projections.
Juliëtte C. S. Anema, Klaas Folkert Boersma, Piet Stammes, Gerbrand Koren, William Woodgate, Philipp Köhler, Christian Frankenberg, and Jacqui Stol
Biogeosciences, 21, 2297–2311, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-2297-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-2297-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
To keep the Paris agreement goals within reach, negative emissions are necessary. They can be achieved with mitigation techniques, such as reforestation, which remove CO2 from the atmosphere. While governments have pinned their hopes on them, there is not yet a good set of tools to objectively determine whether negative emissions do what they promise. Here we show how satellite measurements of plant fluorescence are useful in detecting carbon uptake due to reforestation and vegetation regrowth.
Andrés Yarce Botero, Michiel van Weele, Arjo Segers, Pier Siebesma, and Henk Eskes
Geosci. Model Dev., 17, 3765–3781, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-3765-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-3765-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
HARMONIE WINS50 reanalysis data with 0.025° × 0.025° resolution from 2019 to 2021 were coupled with the LOTOS-EUROS Chemical Transport Model. HARMONIE and ECMWF meteorology configurations against Cabauw observations (52.0° N, 4.9° W) were evaluated as simulated NO2 concentrations with ground-level sensors. Differences in crucial meteorological input parameters (boundary layer height, vertical diffusion coefficient) between the hydrostatic and non-hydrostatic models were analysed.
Adrianus de Laat, Jos van Geffen, Piet Stammes, Ronald van der A, Henk Eskes, and J. Pepijn Veefkind
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 4511–4535, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-4511-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-4511-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Removal of stratospheric nitrogen oxides is crucial for the formation of the ozone hole. TROPOMI satellite measurements of nitrogen dioxide reveal the presence of a not dissimilar "nitrogen hole" that largely coincides with the ozone hole. Three very distinct regimes were identified: inside and outside the ozone hole and the transition zone in between. Our results introduce a valuable and innovative application highly relevant for Antarctic ozone hole and ozone layer recovery.
Tobias Christoph Valentin Werner Riess, Klaas Folkert Boersma, Ward Van Roy, Jos de Laat, Enrico Dammers, and Jasper van Vliet
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 5287–5304, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-5287-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-5287-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Satellite retrievals of trace gases require prior knowledge of the vertical distribution of the pollutant, which is usually obtained from models. Using aircraft-measured vertical NO2 profiles over the North Sea in summer 2021, we evaluate the Transport Model 5 profiles used in the TROPOMI NO2 retrieval. We conclude that driven by the low horizontal resolution and the overestimated vertical mixing, resulting NO2 columns are 20 % too low. This has important implications for emission estimates.
Xiaojuan Lin, Ronald van der A, Jos de Laat, Henk Eskes, Frédéric Chevallier, Philippe Ciais, Zhu Deng, Yuanhao Geng, Xuanren Song, Xiliang Ni, Da Huo, Xinyu Dou, and Zhu Liu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 6599–6611, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-6599-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-6599-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Satellite observations provide evidence for CO2 emission signals from isolated power plants. We use these satellite observations to quantify emissions. We found that for power plants with multiple observations, the correlation of estimated and reported emissions is significantly improved compared to a single observation case. This demonstrates that accurate estimation of power plant emissions can be achieved by monitoring from future satellite missions with more frequent observations.
Anna Agustí-Panareda, Jérôme Barré, Sébastien Massart, Antje Inness, Ilse Aben, Melanie Ades, Bianca C. Baier, Gianpaolo Balsamo, Tobias Borsdorff, Nicolas Bousserez, Souhail Boussetta, Michael Buchwitz, Luca Cantarello, Cyril Crevoisier, Richard Engelen, Henk Eskes, Johannes Flemming, Sébastien Garrigues, Otto Hasekamp, Vincent Huijnen, Luke Jones, Zak Kipling, Bavo Langerock, Joe McNorton, Nicolas Meilhac, Stefan Noël, Mark Parrington, Vincent-Henri Peuch, Michel Ramonet, Miha Razinger, Maximilian Reuter, Roberto Ribas, Martin Suttie, Colm Sweeney, Jérôme Tarniewicz, and Lianghai Wu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 3829–3859, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-3829-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-3829-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We present a global dataset of atmospheric CO2 and CH4, the two most important human-made greenhouse gases, which covers almost 2 decades (2003–2020). It is produced by combining satellite data of CO2 and CH4 with a weather and air composition prediction model, and it has been carefully evaluated against independent observations to ensure validity and point out deficiencies to the user. This dataset can be used for scientific studies in the field of climate change and the global carbon cycle.
Kezia Lange, Andreas Richter, Anja Schönhardt, Andreas C. Meier, Tim Bösch, André Seyler, Kai Krause, Lisa K. Behrens, Folkard Wittrock, Alexis Merlaud, Frederik Tack, Caroline Fayt, Martina M. Friedrich, Ermioni Dimitropoulou, Michel Van Roozendael, Vinod Kumar, Sebastian Donner, Steffen Dörner, Bianca Lauster, Maria Razi, Christian Borger, Katharina Uhlmannsiek, Thomas Wagner, Thomas Ruhtz, Henk Eskes, Birger Bohn, Daniel Santana Diaz, Nader Abuhassan, Dirk Schüttemeyer, and John P. Burrows
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 1357–1389, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-1357-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-1357-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We present airborne imaging DOAS and ground-based stationary and car DOAS measurements conducted during the S5P-VAL-DE-Ruhr campaign in the Rhine-Ruhr region. The measurements are used to validate spaceborne NO2 data products from the Sentinel-5 Precursor TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI). Auxiliary data of the TROPOMI NO2 retrieval, such as spatially higher resolved a priori NO2 vertical profiles, surface reflectivity, and cloud treatment are investigated to evaluate their impact.
John Douros, Henk Eskes, Jos van Geffen, K. Folkert Boersma, Steven Compernolle, Gaia Pinardi, Anne-Marlene Blechschmidt, Vincent-Henri Peuch, Augustin Colette, and Pepijn Veefkind
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 509–534, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-509-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-509-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We focus on the challenges associated with comparing atmospheric composition models with satellite products such as tropospheric NO2 columns. The aim is to highlight the methodological difficulties and propose sound ways of doing such comparisons. Building on the comparisons, a new satellite product is proposed and made available, which takes advantage of higher-resolution, regional atmospheric modelling to improve estimates of troposheric NO2 columns over Europe.
Viral Shah, Daniel J. Jacob, Ruijun Dang, Lok N. Lamsal, Sarah A. Strode, Stephen D. Steenrod, K. Folkert Boersma, Sebastian D. Eastham, Thibaud M. Fritz, Chelsea Thompson, Jeff Peischl, Ilann Bourgeois, Ilana B. Pollack, Benjamin A. Nault, Ronald C. Cohen, Pedro Campuzano-Jost, Jose L. Jimenez, Simone T. Andersen, Lucy J. Carpenter, Tomás Sherwen, and Mat J. Evans
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 1227–1257, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-1227-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-1227-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
NOx in the free troposphere (above 2 km) affects global tropospheric chemistry and the retrieval and interpretation of satellite NO2 measurements. We evaluate free tropospheric NOx in global atmospheric chemistry models and find that recycling NOx from its reservoirs over the oceans is faster than that simulated in the models, resulting in increases in simulated tropospheric ozone and OH. Over the U.S., free tropospheric NO2 contributes the majority of the tropospheric NO2 column in summer.
Qianqian Zhang, K. Folkert Boersma, Bin Zhao, Henk Eskes, Cuihong Chen, Haotian Zheng, and Xingying Zhang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 551–563, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-551-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-551-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We developed an improved superposition column model and used the latest released (v2.3.1) TROPOMI satellite NO2 observations to estimate daily city-scale NOx and CO2 emissions. The results are verified against bottom-up emissions and OCO-2 XCO2 observations. We obtained the day-to-day variation of city NOx and CO2 emissions, allowing policymakers to gain real-time information on spatial–temporal emission patterns and the effectiveness of carbon and nitrogen regulation in urban environments.
Srijana Lama, Sander Houweling, K. Folkert Boersma, Ilse Aben, Hugo A. C. Denier van der Gon, and Maarten C. Krol
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 16053–16071, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-16053-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-16053-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Hydroxyl radical (OH) is the important chemical species that determines the lifetime of some greenhouse gases and trace gases. OH plays a vital role in air pollution chemistry. OH has a short lifetime and is extremely difficult to measure directly. OH concentrations derived from the chemistry transport model (CTM) have uncertainties of >50 %. Therefore, in this study, OH is derived indirectly using satellite date in urban plumes.
Miriam Latsch, Andreas Richter, Henk Eskes, Maarten Sneep, Ping Wang, Pepijn Veefkind, Ronny Lutz, Diego Loyola, Athina Argyrouli, Pieter Valks, Thomas Wagner, Holger Sihler, Michel van Roozendael, Nicolas Theys, Huan Yu, Richard Siddans, and John P. Burrows
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 6257–6283, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-6257-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-6257-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The article investigates different S5P TROPOMI cloud retrieval algorithms for tropospheric trace gas retrievals. The cloud products show differences primarily over snow and ice and for scenes under sun glint. Some issues regarding across-track dependence are found for the cloud fractions as well as for the cloud heights.
Pieternel F. Levelt, Deborah C. Stein Zweers, Ilse Aben, Maite Bauwens, Tobias Borsdorff, Isabelle De Smedt, Henk J. Eskes, Christophe Lerot, Diego G. Loyola, Fabian Romahn, Trissevgeni Stavrakou, Nicolas Theys, Michel Van Roozendael, J. Pepijn Veefkind, and Tijl Verhoelst
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 10319–10351, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-10319-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-10319-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Using the COVID-19 lockdown periods as an example, we show how Sentinel-5P/TROPOMI trace gas data (NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO and CHOCHO) can be used to understand impacts on air quality for regions and cities around the globe. We also provide information for both experienced and inexperienced users about how we created the data using state-of-the-art algorithms, where to get the data, methods taking meteorological and seasonal variability into consideration, and insights for future studies.
Francisco J. Pérez-Invernón, Heidi Huntrieser, Thilo Erbertseder, Diego Loyola, Pieter Valks, Song Liu, Dale J. Allen, Kenneth E. Pickering, Eric J. Bucsela, Patrick Jöckel, Jos van Geffen, Henk Eskes, Sergio Soler, Francisco J. Gordillo-Vázquez, and Jeff Lapierre
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 3329–3351, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-3329-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-3329-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Lightning, one of the major sources of nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere, contributes to the tropospheric concentration of ozone and to the oxidizing capacity of the atmosphere. In this work, we contribute to improving the estimation of lightning-produced nitrogen oxides in the Ebro Valley and the Pyrenees by using two different TROPOMI products and comparing the results.
Xin Zhang, Yan Yin, Ronald van der A, Henk Eskes, Jos van Geffen, Yunyao Li, Xiang Kuang, Jeff L. Lapierre, Kui Chen, Zhongxiu Zhen, Jianlin Hu, Chuan He, Jinghua Chen, Rulin Shi, Jun Zhang, Xingrong Ye, and Hao Chen
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 5925–5942, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-5925-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-5925-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The importance of convection to the ozone and nitrogen oxides (NOx) produced from lightning has long been an open question. We utilize the high-resolution chemistry model with ozonesondes and space observations to discuss the effects of convection over southeastern China, where few studies have been conducted. Our results show the transport and chemistry contributions for various storms and demonstrate the ability of TROPOMI to estimate the lightning NOx production over small-scale convection.
Jos van Geffen, Henk Eskes, Steven Compernolle, Gaia Pinardi, Tijl Verhoelst, Jean-Christopher Lambert, Maarten Sneep, Mark ter Linden, Antje Ludewig, K. Folkert Boersma, and J. Pepijn Veefkind
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 2037–2060, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-2037-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-2037-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is one of the main data products measured by the Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) on the Sentinel-5 Precursor (S5P) satellite. This study describes improvements in the TROPOMI NO2 retrieval leading to version v2.2, operational since 1 July 2021. It compares results with previous versions v1.2–v1.4 and with Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) and ground-based measurements.
Vitali Fioletov, Chris A. McLinden, Debora Griffin, Nickolay Krotkov, Fei Liu, and Henk Eskes
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 4201–4236, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-4201-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-4201-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The COVID-19 lockdown had a large impact on anthropogenic emissions and particularly on nitrogen dioxide (NO2). A new method of isolation of background, urban, and industrial components in NO2 is applied to estimate the lockdown impact on each of them. From 16 March to 15 June 2020, urban NO2 declined by −18 % to −28 % in most regions of the world, while background NO2 typically declined by less than −10 %.
Takashi Sekiya, Kazuyuki Miyazaki, Henk Eskes, Kengo Sudo, Masayuki Takigawa, and Yugo Kanaya
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 1703–1728, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-1703-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-1703-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
This study gives a systematic comparison of TROPOMI version 1.2 and OMI QA4ECV tropospheric NO2 column through global chemical data assimilation (DA) integration for April–May 2018. DA performance is controlled by measurement sensitivities, retrieval errors, and coverage. Due to reduced errors in TROPOMI, agreements against assimilated and independent observations were improved by TROPOMI DA compared to OMI DA. These results demonstrate that TROPOMI DA improves global analyses of NO2 and ozone.
Tobias Christoph Valentin Werner Riess, Klaas Folkert Boersma, Jasper van Vliet, Wouter Peters, Maarten Sneep, Henk Eskes, and Jos van Geffen
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 1415–1438, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-1415-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-1415-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
This paper reports on improved monitoring of ship nitrogen oxide emissions by TROPOMI. With its fantastic resolution we can identify lanes of ship nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution not detected from space before. The quality of TROPOMI NO2 data over sea is improved further by recent upgrades in cloud retrievals and the use of sun glint scenes. Lastly, we study the impact of COVID-19 on ship NO2 in European seas and compare the found reductions to emission estimates gained from ship-specific data.
Auke J. Visser, Laurens N. Ganzeveld, Ignacio Goded, Maarten C. Krol, Ivan Mammarella, Giovanni Manca, and K. Folkert Boersma
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 18393–18411, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-18393-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-18393-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Dry deposition is an important sink for tropospheric ozone that affects ecosystem carbon uptake, but process understanding remains incomplete. We apply a common deposition representation in atmospheric chemistry models and a multi-layer canopy model to multi-year ozone deposition observations. The multi-layer canopy model performs better on diurnal timescales compared to the common approach, leading to a substantially improved simulation of ozone deposition and vegetation ozone impact metrics.
Cited articles
Acarreta, J. R., De Haan, J. F., and Stammes, P.: Cloud pressure retrieval
using the O2-O2 absorption band at 477 nm, J. Geophys. Res., 109,
D05204, https://doi.org/10.1029/2003JD003915, 2004.
Barkley, M. P., De Smedt, I., Van Roozendael, M., Kurosu, T. P., Chance, K.,
Arneth, A., Hagberg, D., Guenther, A., Paulot, F., Marais, E., and Mao, J.:
Top-down isoprene emissions over tropical South America inferred from
SCIAMACHY and OMI formaldehyde columns, J. Geophys. Res., 118, 6849–6868,
https://doi.org/10.1002/jgrd.50552, 2013.
Beirle, S., Platt, U., Wenig, M., and Wagner, T.: Weekly cycle of NO2 by
GOME measurements: a signature of anthropogenic sources, Atmos. Chem. Phys.,
3, 2225–2232, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-3-2225-2003, 2003.
Beirle, S., Boersma, K. F., Platt, U., Lawrence, M. G., and Wagner, T.:
Megacity emissions and lifetimes of nitrogen oxides probed from space,
Science, 333, 1737–1739, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1207824, 2011.
Belmonte Rivas, M., Veefkind, P., Eskes, H., and Levelt, P.: OMI tropospheric
NO2 profiles from cloud slicing: constraints on surface emissions,
convective transport and lightning NOx, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15,
13519–13553, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-13519-2015, 2015.
Boersma, K. F., Eskes, H. J., Meijer, E. W., and Kelder, H. M.: Estimates of
lightning NOx production from GOME satellite observations, Atmos. Chem.
Phys., 5, 2311–2331, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-5-2311-2005, 2005.
Boersma, K. F., Jacob, D. J., Eskes, H. J., Pinder, R. W., Wang, J., and van
der A, R. J.: Intercomparison of SCIAMACHY and OMI tropospheric NO2
columns: Observing the diurnal evolution of chemistry and emissions from
space, J. Geophys. Res., 113, D16S26, https://doi.org/10.1029/2007JD008816, 2008.
Boersma, K. F., Jacob, D. J., Trainic, M., Rudich, Y., DeSmedt, I., Dirksen,
R., and Eskes, H. J.: Validation of urban NO2 concentrations and their
diurnal and seasonal variations observed from the SCIAMACHY and OMI sensors
using in situ surface measurements in Israeli cities, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 9,
3867–3879, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-9-3867-2009, 2009.
Boersma, K. F., Eskes, H. J., Dirksen, R. J., van der A, R. J., Veefkind, J.
P., Stammes, P., Huijnen, V., Kleipool, Q. L., Sneep, M., Claas, J.,
Leitão, J., Richter, A., Zhou, Y., and Brunner, D.: An improved
tropospheric NO2 column retrieval algorithm for the Ozone Monitoring
Instrument, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 4, 1905–1928, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-4-1905-2011,
2011.
Buriez, J. C., Parol, F., Cornet, C., and Doutriaux-Boucher, M.: An improved
derivation of the top-of-atmosphere albedo from POLDER/ADEOS-2: Narrowband
albedos, J. Geophys. Res., 110, D05202, https://doi.org/10.1029/2004JD005243, 2005.
Castellanos, P., Boersma, K. F., and van der Werf, G. R.: Satellite
observations indicate substantial spatiotemporal variability in biomass
burning NOx emission factors for South America, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14,
3929–3943, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-3929-2014, 2014.
Cerquiera, M. A., Pio, C. A., Gomes, P. A., Matos, J. S., and Nunes, T. V.:
Volatile organic compounds in rural atmospheres in central Portugal, Sci.
Total Environ., 313, 49–60, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0048-9697(03)00250-X, 2003.
Choi, S., Joiner, J., Choi, Y., Duncan, B. N., Vasilkov, A., Krotkov, N., and
Bucsela, E.: First estimates of global free-tropospheric NO2 abundances
derived using a cloud-slicing technique applied to satellite observations
from the Aura Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI), Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14,
10565–10588, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-10565-2014, 2014.
Dee, D. P., Uppala, S. M., Simmons, A. J., Berrisford, P., Poli, P.,
Kobayashi, S., Andrae, U., Balmaseda, M. A., Balsamo, G., Bauer, P.,
Bechtold, P., Beljaars, A. C. M., van de Berg, L., Bidlot, J., Bormann, N.,
Delsol, C., Dragani, R., Fuentes, M., Geer, A. J., Haimberger, L., Healy, S.
B., Hersbach, H., Hólm, E. V., Isaksen, L., Kållberg, P., Köhler,
M., Matricardi, M., McNally, A. P., Monge-Sanz, B. M., Morcrette, J.-J.,
Park, B.-K., Peubey, C., de Rosnay, P., Tavolato, C., Thépaut, J.-N. and
Vitart, F.: The ERA-Interim reanalysis: configuration and performance of the
data assimilation system, Q. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 137, 553–597,
https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.828, 2011.
Dentener, F., Kinne, S., Bond, T., Boucher, O., Cofala, J., Generoso, S.,
Ginoux, P., Gong, S., Hoelzemann, J. J., Ito, A., Marelli, L., Penner, J. E.,
Putaud, J.-P., Textor, C., Schulz, M., van der Werf, G. R., and Wilson, J.:
Emissions of primary aerosol and precursor gases in the years 2000 and 1750
prescribed data-sets for AeroCom, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 6, 4321–4344,
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-6-4321-2006, 2006.
De Smedt, I., Van Roozendael, M., Stavrakou, T., Müller, J.-F., Lerot,
C., Theys, N., Valks, P., Hao, N., and van der A, R.: Improved retrieval of
global tropospheric formaldehyde columns from GOME-2/MetOp-A addressing noise
reduction and instrumental degradation issues, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 5,
2933–2949, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-5-2933-2012, 2012.
Dirksen, R. J., Boersma, K. F., Eskes, H. J., Ionov, D. V., Bucsela, E. J.,
Levelt, P. F., and Kelder, H. M.: Evaluation of stratospheric NO2
retrieved from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument: Intercomparison, diurnal
cycle, and trending, J. Geophys. Res., 116, D08305, https://doi.org/10.1029/2010JD014943,
2011.
Dufour, G., Wittrock, F., Camredon, M., Beekmann, M., Richter, A.,
Aumont, B., and Burrows, J. P.: SCIAMACHY formaldehyde observations:
constraint for isoprene emission estimates over Europe?, Atmos. Chem. Phys.,
9, 1647–1664, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-9-1647-2009, 2009.
Duncan, B. N., Yoshida, Y., Olson, J. R., Sillman, S., Martin, R. V., Lamsal,
L., Hu, Y. Pickering, K. E., Retscher, C., Allen, D. J., and Crawford, J. H.:
Application of OMI observations to a space-based indicator of NOx and
VOC controls on surface ozone formation, Atmos. Environ., 44, 2213–2223,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2010.03.010, 2010.
Duncan, B. N., Prados, A. I., Lamsal, L. N., Liu, Y., Streets, D. G., Gupta,
P., Hilsenrath, E., Kahn, R. A., Nielsen, J. E., Beyersdorf, A. J., Burton,
S. P., Fiore, A. M., Fishman, J., Henze, D. K., Hostetlere, C. A., Krotkov,
N. A., Lee, P., Lin, M., Pawson, S. Pfister, G., Pickering, K. E., Pierce, R.
B., Yoshida, Y., and Ziemba, L. D.: Satellite data of atmospheric pollution
for U.S. air quality applications: Examples of applications, summary of data
end-use resources, answers to FAQs, and common mistakes to avoid, Atmos.
Environ., 94, 647–662, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2014.05.061, 2014.
Eskes, H. J. and Boersma, K. F.: Averaging kernels for DOAS total-column
satellite retrievals, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 3, 1285–1291,
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-3-1285-2003, 2003.
Eskes, H. J., van Velthoven, P. F. J., Valks, P. J. M., and Kelder, H. M.:
Assimilation of GOME total-ozone satellite observations in a
three-dimensional tracer-transport model, Q. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 129,
1663–1681, https://doi.org/10.1256/qj.02.14, 2003.
Evans, M. J. and Jacob, D. J.: Impact of new laboratory studies of
N2O5 hydrolysis on global model budgets of tropospheric nitrogen
oxides, ozone, and OH, Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L09813,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2005GL022469, 2005.
Fried, A., McKeen, S., Sewell, S., Harder, J., Henry, B., Goldan, P., Kuster,
W., Williams, E., Baumann, K., Shetter, R., and Cantrell, C.: Photochemistry
of formaldehyde during the 1993 Tropospheric OH Photochemistry Experiment, J.
Geophys. Res., 102, 6283–6296, 1997.
Geddes, J., Murphy, J. G., O'Brien, J. M., and Celarier, E. A.: Biases in
long-term NO2 averages inferred from satellite observations due to cloud
selection criteria, Remote Sens. Env., 124, 210–216,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2012.05.008, 2012.
Gery, M. W., Whitten, G. Z., Killus, J. P., and Dodge, M. C.: A photochemical
kinetics mechanism for urban and regional scale computer modeling. J.
Geophys. Res., 94, 12925–12956, 1989.
González Abad, G., Liu, X., Chance, K., Wang, H., Kurosu, T. P., and
Suleiman, R.: Updated Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Ozone Monitoring
Instrument (SAO OMI) formaldehyde retrieval, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 8, 19–32,
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-8-19-2015, 2015.
Hains, J. C., Boersma, K. F., Kroon, M., Dirksen, R. J., Cohen, R. C.,
Perring, A. E., Bucsela, E., Volten, H., Swart, D. P. J., Richter, A.,
Wittrock, F., Schoenhardt, A., Wagner, T., Ibrahim, O. W., Van Roozendael,
M., Pinardi, G., Gleason, J. F., Veefkind, J. P., and Levelt, P.: Testing and
improving OMI DOMINO tropospheric NO2 using observations from the
DANDELIONS and INTEX-B validation campaigns, J. Geophys. Res., 115, D05301,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2009JD012399, 2010.
Herron-Thorpe, F. L., Lamb, B. K., Mount, G. H., and Vaughan, J. K.:
Evaluation of a regional air quality forecast model for tropospheric NO2
columns using the OMI/Aura satellite tropospheric NO2 product, Atmos.
Chem. Phys., 10, 8839–8854, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-10-8839-2010, 2010.
Hooghiemstra, P. B., Krol, M. C., Bergamaschi, P., deLaat, A. T. J., van
derWerf, G. R., Novelli, P. C., Deeter, M. N., Aben, I., and Röckmann,
T.: Comparing optimized CO emission estimates using MOPITT or NOAA surface
network observations, J. Geophys. Res., 117, D06309,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JD017043, 2012.
Huijnen, V., Eskes, H. J., Poupkou, A., Elbern, H., Boersma, K. F., Foret,
G., Sofiev, M., Valdebenito, A., Flemming, J., Stein, O., Gross, A.,
Robertson, L., D'Isidoro, M., Kioutsioukis, I., Friese, E., Amstrup, B.,
Bergstrom, R., Strunk, A., Vira, J., Zyryanov, D., Maurizi, A., Melas, D.,
Peuch, V.-H., and Zerefos, C.: Comparison of OMI NO2 tropospheric columns
with an ensemble of global and European regional air quality models, Atmos.
Chem. Phys., 10, 3273–3296, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-10-3273-2010, 2010a.
Huijnen, V., Williams, J., van Weele, M., van Noije, T., Krol, M., Dentener,
F., Segers, A., Houweling, S., Peters, W., de Laat, J., Boersma, F.,
Bergamaschi, P., van Velthoven, P., Le Sager, P., Eskes, H., Alkemade, F.,
Scheele, R., Nádélec, P., and Pätz, H.-W.: The global chemistry
transport model TM5: description and evaluation of the tropospheric chemistry
version 3.0, Geosci. Model Dev., 3, 445-473, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-3-445-2010,
2010b.
Ide, K., Courtier, P., Ghil, M., Lorenc, and A. C.: Unified Notation for Data
Assimilation: Operational, Sequential, and Variational, J. Meteorol. Soc.
Jpn., 75, 181–189, 1997.
Inness, A., Baier, F., Benedetti, A., Bouarar, I., Chabrillat, S., Clark, H.,
Clerbaux, C., Coheur, P., Engelen, R. J., Errera, Q., Flemming, J., George,
M., Granier, C., Hadji-Lazaro, J., Huijnen, V., Hurtmans, D., Jones, L.,
Kaiser, J. W., Kapsomenakis, J., Lefever, K., Leitão, J., Razinger, M.,
Richter, A., Schultz, M. G., Simmons, A. J., Suttie, M., Stein, O.,
Thépaut, J.-N., Thouret, V., Vrekoussis, M., Zerefos, C., and the MACC
team: The MACC reanalysis: an 8 yr data set of atmospheric composition,
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13, 4073–4109, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-4073-2013, 2013.
Irie, H., Boersma, K. F., Kanaya, Y., Takashima, H., Pan, X., and Wang, Z.
F.: Quantitative bias estimates for tropospheric NO2 columns retrieved
from SCIAMACHY, OMI, and GOME-2 using a common standard for East Asia, Atmos.
Meas. Tech., 5, 2403–2411, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-5-2403-2012, 2012.
Jones, D. B. A., Bowman, K. W., Palmer, P. I., Worden, J. D., Jacob, D. J.,
Hoffman, R. N., Bey, I., and Yantosca, R. M.: Potential of observations from
the Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer to constrain continental sources of
carbon monoxide, J. Geophys. Res., 108, 4789, https://doi.org/10.1029/2003JD003702, 2003.
Kleipool, Q. L., Dobber, M. R., de Haan, J., and Levelt, P. F.: Earth surface
reflectance climatology from 3 years of OMI data, J. Geophys. Res., 113,
D18308, https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JD010290, 2008.
Krol, M., Houweling, S., Bregman, B., van den Broek, M., Segers, A., van
Velthoven, P., Peters, W., Dentener, F., and Bergamaschi, P.: The two-way
nested global chemistry-transport zoom model TM5: algorithm and applications,
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 5, 417–432, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-5-417-2005, 2005.
Krol, M., Peters, W., Hooghiemstra, P., George, M., Clerbaux, C., Hurtmans,
D., McInerney, D., Sedano, F., Bergamaschi, P., El Hajj, M., Kaiser, J. W.,
Fisher, D., Yershov, V., and Muller, J.-P.: How much CO was emitted by the
2010 fires around Moscow?, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13, 4737–4747,
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-4737-2013, 2013.
Lamsal, L. N., Martin, R. V., van Donkelaar, A., Celarier, E. A., Bucsela, E.
J., Boersma, K. F., Dirksen, R., Luo, C., and Wang, Y.: Indirect validation
of tropospheric nitrogen dioxide retrieved from the OMI satellite instrument:
Insight into the seasonal variation of nitrogen oxides at northern
midlatitudes, J. Geophys. Res., 115, D05302, https://doi.org/10.1029/2009JD013351, 2010.
Lamsal, L. N., Krotkov, N. A., Celarier, E. A., Swartz, W. H., Pickering, K.
E., Bucsela, E. J., Gleason, J. F., Martin, R. V., Philip, S., Irie, H.,
Cede, A., Herman, J., Weinheimer, A., Szykman, J. J., and Knepp, T. N.:
Evaluation of OMI operational standard NO2 column retrievals using in situ
and surface-based NO2 observations, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 11587–11609,
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-11587-2014, 2014.
Lathière, J., Hauglustaine, D. A., Friend, A. D., De Noblet-Ducoudré,
N., Viovy, N., and Folberth, G. A.: Impact of climate variability and land
use changes on global biogenic volatile organic compound emissions, Atmos.
Chem. Phys., 6, 2129–2146, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-6-2129-2006, 2006.
Lee, C., Martin, R. V., van Donkelaar, A., O'Byrne, G., Krotkov, N., Richter,
A., Huey, L. G., and Holloway, J. S.: Retrieval of vertical columns of sulfur
dioxide from SCIAMACHY and OMI: Air mass factor algorithm development,
validation, and error analysis, J. Geophys. Res., 114, D22303,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2009JD012123, 2009.
Lin, J.-T.: Satellite constraint for emissions of nitrogen oxides from
anthropogenic, lightning and soil sources over East China on a
high-resolution grid, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 12, 2881–2898,
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-12-2881-2012, 2012.
Lin, J.-T. and McElroy, M. B.: Detection from space of a reduction in
anthropogenic emissions of nitrogen oxides during the Chinese economic
downturn, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 11, 8171–8188, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-11-8171-2011,
2011.
Lin, J.-T., Liu, Z., Zhang, Q., Liu, H., Mao, J., and Zhuang, G.: Modeling
uncertainties for tropospheric nitrogen dioxide columns affecting
satellite-based inverse modeling of nitrogen oxides emissions, Atmos. Chem.
Phys., 12, 12255–12275, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-12-12255-2012, 2012.
Lin, J.-T., Martin, R. V., Boersma, K. F., Sneep, M., Stammes, P., Spurr, R.,
Wang, P., Van Roozendael, M., Clémer, K., and Irie, H.: Retrieving
tropospheric nitrogen dioxide from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument: effects
of aerosols, surface reflectance anisotropy, and vertical profile of nitrogen
dioxide, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 1441–1461, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-1441-2014,
2014.
Ma, J. Z., Beirle, S., Jin, J. L., Shaiganfar, R., Yan, P., and Wagner, T.:
Tropospheric NO2 vertical column densities over Beijing: results of the
first three years of ground-based MAX-DOAS measurements (2008–2011) and
satellite validation, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13, 1547–1567,
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-1547-2013, 2013.
Maasakkers, J. D.: Vital improvements to the retrieval of tropospheric
NO2 columns from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument, MSc Report, R-1882-A,
July 2013, Eindhoven University of Technology, 2013.
Mao, J., Jacob, D. J., Evans, M. J., Olson, J. R., Ren, X., Brune, W. H.,
Clair, J. M. St., Crounse, J. D., Spencer, K. M., Beaver, M. R., Wennberg, P.
O., Cubison, M. J., Jimenez, J. L., Fried, A., Weibring, P., Walega, J. G.,
Hall, S. R., Weinheimer, A. J., Cohen, R. C., Chen, G., Crawford, J. H.,
McNaughton, C., Clarke, A. D., Jaeglé, L., Fisher, J. A., Yantosca, R.
M., Le Sager, P., and Carouge, C.: Chemistry of hydrogen oxide radicals
(HOx) in the Arctic troposphere in spring, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 10,
5823–5838, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-10-5823-2010, 2010.
Martin, R. V., Jacob, D. J., Chance, K., Kurosu, T. P., Palmer, P. I., and
Evans, M. J.: Global inventory of nitrogen oxide emissions constrained by
space-based observations of NO2 columns, J. Geophys. Res., 108, 4537,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2003JD003453, 2003.
Martin, R. V., Fiore, A. M., and van Donkelaar, A.: Space-based diagnosis of
surface ozone sensitivity to anthropogenic emissions, Geophys. Res. Lett.,
31, L06120, https://doi.org/10.1029/2004GL019416, 2004.
McLinden, C. A., Fioletov, V., Boersma, K. F., Kharol, S. K., Krotkov, N.,
Lamsal, L., Makar, P. A., Martin, R. V., Veefkind, J. P., and Yang, K.:
Improved satellite retrievals of NO2 and SO2 over the Canadian oil
sands and comparisons with surface measurements, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14,
3637–3656, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-3637-2014, 2014.
Migliorini, S., Piccolo, C., and Rodgers, C. D.: Use of the Information
Content in Satellite Measurements for an Efficient Interface to Data
Assimilation, Mon. Weather Rev., 136, 2633–2650, https://doi.org/10.1175/2007MWR2236.1,
2008.
Mijling, G. and van der A, R. J.: Using daily satellite observations to
estimate emissions of short-lived air pollutants on a mesoscopic scale, J.
Geophys. Res., 117, D17302, https://doi.org/10.1029/2012JD017817, 2012.
Millet, D. B., Jacob, D. J., Turquety, S., Hudman, R. C., Wu, S., Fried, A.,
Walega, J., Heikes, B. G., Blake, D. R., Singh, H. B., Anderson, B. E.,
Clarke, A. D.: Formaldehyde distribution over North America: Implications for
satellite retrievals of formaldehyde columns and isoprene emission, J.
Geophys. Res., 111, D24S02, https://doi.org/10.1029/2005JD006853, 2006.
Millet, D. B., Jacob, D. J., Boersma, K. F., Fu, T. M., Kurosu, T. P.,
Chance, K., Heald, C. L., and Guenther, A.: Spatial distribution of isoprene
emissions from North America derived from formaldehyde column measurements by
the OMI satellite sensor, J. Geophys. Res., 113, D02307,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2007JD008950, 2008.
Miyazaki, K., Eskes, H. J., and Sudo, K.: Global NOx emission estimates
derived from an assimilation of OMI tropospheric NO2 columns, Atmos. Chem.
Phys., 12, 2263–2288, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-12-2263-2012, 2012.
Morcrette, J. J. and Jakob, C.: The response of the ECMWF model to changes in
the cloud overlap assumption, Mon. Weather Rev., 128, 1707–1732, 2000.
Müller, J.-F., Stavrakou, T., Wallens, S., De Smedt, I., Van Roozendael,
M., Potosnak, M. J., Rinne, J., Munger, B., Goldstein, A., and Guenther, A.
B.: Global isoprene emissions estimated using MEGAN, ECMWF analyses and a
detailed canopy environment model, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 8, 1329–1341,
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-8-1329-2008, 2008.
Munger, J. W., Jacob, D. J., Daube, B. C., Horowitz, L. W., Keene, W. C., and
Heikes, B. G.: Formaldehyde, Glyoxal, and Methylglyoxal in Air and Cloudwater
at a Rural Mountain Site in Central Virginia, J. Geophys. Res., 100, 9325,
https://doi.org/10.1029/95jd00508, 1995.
Olivier, J. G. J. and Berdowski, J. J. M.: Global emissions sources and
sinks, in The Climate System, Lisse, the Netherlands, 33–78, 2001.
Palmer, P. I., Jacob, D. J., Chance, K., Martin, R. V., Spurr, R. J. D.,
Kurosu, T. P., Bey, I., Yantosca, R., Fiore, A., and Li, Q.: Air Mass Factor
Formulation for Spectroscopic Measurements from Satellites: Application to
Formaldehyde Retrievals from the Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment, J.
Geophys. Res., 106, 14539–14550, https://doi.org/10.1029/2000jd900772, 2001.
Paulot, F., Jacob, D. J., Pinder, R. W., Bash, J. O., Travis, K., and Henze,
D. K.: Ammonia emissions in the United States, European Union, and China
derived by high-resolution inversion of ammonium wet deposition data:
Interpretation with a new agricultural emissions inventory (MASAGE_NH3),
J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 119, 4343–4364, https://doi.org/10.1002/2013JD021130, 2014.
Platt, U. and Stutz, J.: Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy:
Principles and Applications, Springer Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 2008.
Quaas, J.: Final versions of CALIPSO-PARASOL observational analysis product
and of MODIS simulator, Deliverable D1.2: Final version of MODIS simulator,
available at:
http://www.euclipse.eu/downloads/D1.2_euclipse_modissimulator.pdf (last
access: 18 February 2016), 2011.
Richter, A., Wittrock, F., and Burrows, J. P.: SO2 measurements with
SCIAMACHY, Proc. Atmospheric Science Conference F, 8–12, 2006.
Rodgers, C. D.: Inverse methods for atmospheric sounding: Theory and
Practice, Series on Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics, Vol. 2,
Singapore, World Scientific, 2000.
Rodgers, C. D. and Connor, B. J.: Intercomparison of remote sounding
instruments, J. Geophys. Res., 108, 4116, https://doi.org/10.1029/2002JD002299, 2003.
Schaub, D., Boersma, K. F., Kaiser, J. W., Weiss, A. K., Folini, D., Eskes,
H. J., and Buchmann, B.: Comparison of GOME tropospheric NO2 columns with
NO2 profiles deduced from ground-based in situ measurements, Atmos. Chem.
Phys., 6, 3211–3229, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-6-3211-2006, 2006.
Schaub, D., Brunner, D., Boersma, K. F., Keller, J., Folini, D., Buchmann,
B., Berresheim, H., and Staehelin, J.: SCIAMACHY tropospheric NO2 over
Switzerland: estimates of NOx lifetimes and impact of the complex Alpine
topography on the retrieval, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 7, 5971–5987,
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-7-5971-2007, 2007.
Stammes, P., Sneep, M., de Haan, J. F., Veefkind, J. P., Wang, P., and
Levelt, P. F.: Effective cloud fractions from the Ozone Monitoring
Instrument: Theoretical framework and validation, J. Geophys. Res., 113,
D16S38, https://doi.org/10.1029/2007JD008820, 2008.
Stavrakou, T., Müller, J.-F., Boersma, K. F., van der A, R. J., Kurokawa,
J., Ohara, T., and Zhang, Q.: Key chemical NOx sink uncertainties and how
they influence top-down emissions of nitrogen oxides, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13,
9057–9082, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-9057-2013, 2013.
Theys, N., Campion, R., Clarisse, L., Brenot, H., van Gent, J., Dils, B.,
Corradini, S., Merucci, L., Coheur, P.-F., Van Roozendael, M., Hurtmans, D.,
Clerbaux, C., Tait, S., and Ferrucci, F.: Volcanic SO2 fluxes derived from
satellite data: a survey using OMI, GOME-2, IASI and MODIS, Atmos. Chem.
Phys., 13, 5945–5968, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-5945-2013, 2013.
Uno, I., He, Y., Ohara, T., Yamaji, K., Kurokawa, J.-I., Katayama, M., Wang,
Z., Noguchi, K., Hayashida, S., Richter, A., and Burrows, J. P.: Systematic
analysis of interannual and seasonal variations of model-simulated
tropospheric NO2 in Asia and comparison with GOME-satellite data, Atmos.
Chem. Phys., 7, 1671–1681, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-7-1671-2007, 2007.
van der Werf, G. R., Randerson, J. T., Giglio, L., Collatz, G. J.,
Kasibhatla, P. S., and Arellano Jr., A. F.: Interannual variability in global
biomass burning emissions from 1997 to 2004, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 6,
3423–3441, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-6-3423-2006, 2006.
van Geffen, J. H. G. M., Boersma, K. F., Van Roozendael, M., Hendrick, F.,
Mahieu, E., De Smedt, I., Sneep, M., and Veefkind, J. P.: Improved spectral
fitting of nitrogen dioxide from OMI in the 405–465 nm window, Atmos. Meas.
Tech., 8, 1685–1699, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-8-1685-2015, 2015.
van Noije, T. P. C., Eskes, H. J., Dentener, F. J., Stevenson, D. S.,
Ellingsen, K., Schultz, M. G., Wild, O., Amann, M., Atherton, C. S.,
Bergmann, D. J., Bey, I., Boersma, K. F., Butler, T., Cofala, J., Drevet, J.,
Fiore, A. M., Gauss, M., Hauglustaine, D. A., Horowitz, L. W., Isaksen, I. S.
A., Krol, M. C., Lamarque, J.-F., Lawrence, M. G., Martin, R. V., Montanaro,
V., Müller, J.-F., Pitari, G., Prather, M. J., Pyle, J. A., Richter, A.,
Rodriguez, J. M., Savage, N. H., Strahan, S. E., Sudo, K., Szopa, S., and van
Roozendael, M.: Multi-model ensemble simulations of tropospheric NO2
compared with GOME retrievals for the year 2000, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 6,
2943–2979, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-6-2943-2006, 2006.
Verstraeten, W. W., Neu, J. L., Williams, J. E., Bowman, K. W., Worden, J.
R., and Boersma, K. F.: Rapid increases in tropospheric ozone production and
export from China, Nat. Geosci., 8, 690–695, https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo2493, 2015.
Vinken, G. C. M., Boersma, K. F., Jacob, D. J., and Meijer, E. W.: Accounting
for non-linear chemistry of ship plumes in the GEOS-Chem global chemistry
transport model, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 11, 11707–11722,
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-11-11707-2011, 2011.
Vinken, G. C. M., Boersma, K. F., van Donkelaar, A., and Zhang, L.:
Constraints on ship NOx emissions in Europe using GEOS-Chem and OMI
satellite NO2 observations, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 1353–1369,
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-1353-2014, 2014.
von Hardenberg, J., Vozella, L., Tomasi, C., Vitale, V., Lupi, A., Mazzola,
M., van Noije, T. P. C., Strunk, A., and Provenzale, A.: Aerosol optical
depth over the Arctic: a comparison of ECHAM-HAM and TM5 with ground-based,
satellite and reanalysis data, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 12, 6953–6967,
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-12-6953-2012, 2012.
Vrekoussis, M., Wittrock, F., Richter, A., and Burrows, J. P.: Temporal and
spatial variability of glyoxal as observed from space, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 9,
4485–4504, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-9-4485-2009, 2009.
Wang, X., Mallet, V, Berroir, J.-P., and Herlin, I.: Assimilation of OMI
NO2 retrievals into a regional chemistry-transport model for improving
air quality forecasts over Europe, Atmos. Environ., 45, 485–492,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2010.09.028, 2011.
Wang, Y., McElroy, M. B., Martin, R. V., Streets, D. G., Zhang, Q., and Fu,
T.-M.: Seasonal variability of NOx emissions over east China constrained
by satellite observations: Implications for combustion and microbial sources,
J. Geophys. Res., 112, D06301, https://doi.org/10.1029/2006JD007538, 2007.
Williams, J. E., Scheele, M. P., van Velthoven, P. F. J., Cammas, J.-P.,
Thouret, V., Galy-Lacaux, C., and Volz-Thomas, A.: The influence of biogenic
emissions from Africa on tropical tropospheric ozone during 2006: a global
modeling study, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 9, 5729–5749,
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-9-5729-2009, 2009.
Williams, J. E., Strunk, A., Huijnen, V., and van Weele, M.: The application
of the Modified Band Approach for the calculation of on-line
photodissociation rate constants in TM5: implications for oxidative capacity,
Geosci. Model Dev., 5, 15–35, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-5-15-2012, 2012.
Williams, J. E., Le Bras, G., Kukui, A., Ziereis, H., and Brenninkmeijer, C.
A. M.: The impact of the chemical production of methyl nitrate from the
NO + CH3O2 reaction on the global distributions of alkyl nitrates,
nitrogen oxides and tropospheric ozone: a global modelling study, Atmos.
Chem. Phys., 14, 2363–2382, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-2363-2014, 2014.
Zhang, L., Jacob, D. J., Knipping, E. M., Kumar, N., Munger, J. W., Carouge,
C. C., van Donkelaar, A., Wang, Y. X., and Chen, D.: Nitrogen deposition to
the United States: distribution, sources, and processes, Atmos. Chem. Phys.,
12, 4539–4554, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-12-4539-2012, 2012.
Zhang, Q., Streets, D. G., and He, K.: Satellite observations of recent power
plant construction in Inner Mongolia, China, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L15809,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2009GL038984, 2009.
Short summary
Satellite measurements of pollutants and greenhouse gases are useful to test and improve atmospheric models. But this requires that modellers account for the spatial and temporal representativeness and the vertical sensitivity of the satellite measurements. This paper provides guidelines on how to carry out a faithful model-satellite comparison for species such as nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and formaldehyde that play a key role in air pollution studies.
Satellite measurements of pollutants and greenhouse gases are useful to test and improve...
