Comparison of satellite-observed XCO2 from GOSAT, OCO-2, and ground-based TCCON

Abstract

CO2 is one of the most important greenhouse gases. Its concentration and distribution in the atmosphere have always been important in studying the carbon cycle and the greenhouse effect. This study is the first to validate the XCO2 of satellite observations with total carbon column observing network (TCCON) data and to compare the global XCO2 distribution for the passive satellites Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) and Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT), which are on-orbit greenhouse gas satellites. Results show that since GOSAT was launched in 2009, its mean measurement accuracy was -0.4107 ppm with an error standard deviation of 2.216 ppm since 2009, and has since decreased to -0.62 ppm with an error standard deviation of 2.3 ppm during the past two more years (2014-2016), while the mean measurement accuracy of the OCO-2 was 0.2671 ppm with an error standard deviation of 1.56 ppm from September 2014 to December 2016. GOSAT observations have recently decreased and lagged behind OCO-2 on the ability to monitor the global distribution and monthly detection of XCO2. Furthermore, the XCO2 values gathered by OCO-2 are higher by an average of 1.765 ppm than those by GOSAT. Comparison of the latitude gradient characteristics, seasonal fluctuation amplitude, and annual growth trend of the monthly mean XCO2 distribution also showed differences in values but similar line shapes between OCO-2 and GOSAT. When compared with the NOAA statistics, both satellites' measurements reflect the growth trend of the global XCO2 at a low and smooth level, and reflect the seasonal fluctuation with an absolutely different line shape.