Feasible groundbased atmospheric and flux measurements by developing countries in support of satellite data

Abstract

To allow increasing participation of developing countries in global change studies, ground based measurement systems which can be easily comissioned and provide support to satellite observations so as to fit into global mapping need to be chosen carefully. Those relating to atmospheric parameters (greenhouse gas concentrations, emission fluxes, transport properties, etc.) are discussed here. The simplest and of most immediate interest relate to sources and sinks of CH₄ (primarily from rice paddy fields, animals, wetlands) and N₂O (soils, oceans). Measurement techniques and inter-country campaign plans are discussed. There are also important possibilities of using the same technique for measurements of emissions from biomass burning alongwith ozone measurements coupled with survey of biomass burning areas from satellites. Another major area concerns the proposed ITYO programme (International Troposheric Ozone Year), for which, apart from balloon ozone ascents, use of UV-B radiometry at selected wavelengths is considered. The third area discussed concerns measurements of atmospheric aerosols using Multi-wavelength Radiometer (MWR). In addition, in the last few years, a number of advanced groundlevel systems have been installed at low latitudes, which, if made available widely to developing country scientists, and their participation supported financially, could provide a major opportunity for world class research. These include: the MST radar at Tirupati (India) Chung-Li (Taiwan) and Arecibo, Puerto Rico; the Lidars at Thumba and at Natal, Brazil; and the Laser Heterodyning System and mm-wave radiospectrometer at Delhi.