An Airborne 2 micron Laser Absorption Spectrometer for the Remote Measurement of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide
Gary
D
Spiers, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, gary.spiers@jpl.nasa.gov
(Presenting)
Robert
T
Menzies, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, robert.menzies@jpl.nasa.gov
Mark
W
Phillips, Lockheed Martin Coherent Technologies, mark.w.phillips@lmco.com
The National Research Council’s decadal survey on Earth Science and Applications from Space recommended the Active Sensing of CO2 Emissions over Nights, Days, and Seasons (ASCENDS) mission for launch in 2013-2016 as a logical follow-on to the Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) which is scheduled for launch in late 2008.
The use of a laser absorption measurement technique provides the required ability to make day and night measurements of CO2 over all latitudes and seasons. As a demonstrator for an approach to meeting the instrument needs for the ASCENDS mission we have developed the airborne Carbon Dioxide Laser Absorption Spectrometer (CO2LAS) which uses the Integrated Path Differential Absorption (IPDA) Spectrometer technique operating in the 2 micron wavelength region. In 2006 the instrument flew in a series of short checkout flights and 2 short flight campaigns were conducted during 2007. We will present an overview of the CO2LAS instrument and results from the flights flown to date.
NASA Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Active Awards Represented by this Poster: