Copernicus CO2M Carbon Dioxide Monitoring (ESA / EU)
A planned trio of satellites that will measure the carbon dioxide and methane people release, so countries can check whether their emission cuts are working (ESA).
Image: NASA.
Last reviewed: 4 sources cited
Explain Like I'm 10
- Some gases, like A gas that people and animals breathe out and that burning fuel releases. Plants take it in, and too much of it in the air warms the planet. Glossary, trap heat and warm our planet.
- CO2M will be three satellites that measure how much of these gases people release.
- That helps countries see if their plans to cut pollution are working.
The Five W's of Copernicus CO2M Carbon Dioxide Monitoring (ESA / EU)
Who
ESA is developing CO2M for the European Union's Copernicus program. OHB System AG builds the satellites, with Thales Alenia Space providing the instruments.
Source: ESA, Europe’s carbon dioxide monitoring mission elevated to the power of three
What
Each satellite carries a near-infrared and shortwave-infrared spectrometer that measures carbon dioxide and A greenhouse gas that traps much more heat than carbon dioxide over a few decades. It leaks from oil and gas sites, landfills and farms. Glossary in the air, focusing on emissions from human activity. It also measures nitrogen dioxide and tiny airborne particles.
Source: ESA, CO2M mission overview
When
The first satellite, CO2M-A, is planned for launch in 2027. CO2M-B is expected about six months later, and CO2M-C about a year after that.
Source: Copernicus SentiWiki, CO2M
Where
In a sun-synchronous The curved path an object takes as it travels around a planet, moon or star, like a satellite circling Earth. Glossary about 735 km above Earth. With three satellites, CO2M will measure around the whole globe in about 3.5 days.
Source: Copernicus SentiWiki, CO2M
Why
Countries need an independent way to see whether their climate policies are cutting emissions and meeting Paris Agreement targets. CO2M will estimate emissions at local, national and regional scales.
Impact Statement
Agency solution · planned
ESA and the European Commission expanded CO2M from two satellites to three, cutting the time to measure carbon dioxide around the whole globe to about 3.5 days.
Source: ESA, Europe’s carbon dioxide monitoring mission elevated to the power of three
For Further Information: ESA, Copernicus Sentinel Expansion missions
Three CO2M satellites will measure human-made carbon dioxide around the whole globe in about 3.5 days.
How This Saves People & the Planet
For People
Independent measurements of emissions from cities, power plants and countries help governments see which climate policies work, so effort goes where it protects people most.
Source: ESA, Copernicus Sentinel Expansion missions
For Nature
Cutting carbon dioxide and methane slows climate change, which threatens forests, oceans and wildlife. CO2M will show where those cuts are really happening.
Want to go deeper? ESA has the full CO2M story.
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