Research Progress of Atmospheric CO2 Monitoring by Satellite Remote Sensing

Carbon peaking and carbon neutrality are gaining popularity in the international community. As a result, there is a growing demand for high-accuracy quantification of carbon sources and sinks. Global carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations measured by satellite are essential evidence for accurate CO2 emissions estimation. And advances in infrared hyper-spectral technologies have enhanced satellite-derived CO2 estimation. This paper reviews the development of space-borne instruments, such as the infrared hypersoectral sounder and lidar, from the 1950s. The two types of infrared hyperspectral sounders, including sounders for observing atmospheric profiles, such as AIRS, IASI, CrIS, and HIRAS, and special instruments for observing atmospheric composition, such as GOSAT, OCO, GAS, and ACGS/TanSAT. The precision of total volume CO2 concentration products has improved. It therefore encourages satellite observation based researches into carbon sources and sinks, as well as emissions inventories. And rising of related publication is well corresponding to the launch of new instruments. And in the future, the rapid development of lidar observation will further improve accuracy of CO2 monitoring.