Sensitivity studies for space-based laser measurements of atmospheric CO2 concentration towards future NASA mission ASCENDS

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is developing an active laser approach for global atmospheric CO₂ concentration measurement from space as a candidate for NASA´s future mission ASCENDS - the Active Sensing of CO₂ Emissions over Nights, Days, and Seasons. This pulsed laser approach provides several advantages with respect to passive approaches and other laser techniques toward high-precision CO₂ concentration measurement from space. Sensitivity studies conducted for this development identify the best line and ideal wavelengths for the lower atmospheric CO₂ and O₂ abundance measurement that allow the estimate of CO₂ concentration in the lower atmosphere associated with CO₂ sources and sinks. Studies also identify the ancillary data requirements, laser system and other measurement optimizations in order to achieve the high-precision measurement.