Identification of tropospheric trace gas sources: synergistic use of HCHO and other satellite observations

Abstract

Satellite observations provide unique opportunities for the identifications of trace gas sources on a global scale. In our case, the satellite Formaldehyde (HCHO) observations provide information concerning the localization of biomass burning (intense source of HCHO over the Amazon basin region and in central Africa) and biogenic isoprene emissions. The HCHO data can be compared with NO2, glyoxal and CO results to identify more precisely the tropospheric sources (biomass burning events, biogenic emissions, human activities). We present case studies for combined satellite observations, derived from GOME measurements aboard the ERS-2 satellite and SCIAMACHY aboard ENVISAT as well as other satellite instrument results like fire counts.

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