First ozone and nitrogen dioxide measurements from
MetOp-A
The Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment-2 (GOME-2)
on board MetOp-A launched in October 2006 and currently undergoing
commissioning has delivered the first geophysical products for
monitoring the Earth's ozone layer, and European and global air
quality.
This marks the start of a long-term European
commitment to monitor the recovery of the ozone layer and to support
the monitoring and forecasting of air quality, both for European
citizens and at a global level. The products have been developed by
the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in partnership with EUMETSAT’s
Satellite Application Facility on Ozone and Atmospheric Chemistry
Monitoring (O3M SAF), which is coordinated by the Finnish
Meteorological Institute (FMI). The O3M SAF generates, validates,
archives and distributes atmospheric ozone, trace gases, aerosols and
surface-ultraviolet radiation data products using measurements from
MetOp-A.
GOME-2, a scanning spectrometer, follows on from
successful GOME flown on ESA’s ERS-2 satellite launched in April 1995,
and provides near-global coverage on a daily basis. The instrument
measures profiles of atmospheric ozone and the distribution of other
trace gases in the atmosphere. The instrument measures profiles of
atmospheric ozone and the distribution of other trace gases in the
atmosphere that are related to the depletion of ozone in the
stratosphere, and to natural and anthropogenic sources of pollution.
The amount of surface ultraviolet radiation is also
derived from GOME-2 measurements. The ozone layer at an altitude of
20-30 kilometres shields the Earth from harmful ultra-violet radiation.
However, the depletion of this protective ozone layer, which is most
noticeable over the Arctic and Antarctic regions, is of particular
environmental concern. The resulting increased levels of ultraviolet
radiation reaching the surface of the Earth can cause serious damage
to human health, agriculture, forests and water ecosystems. High
levels of atmospheric pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide produced by
fossil fuel combustion, can damage respiratory health and contribute
to acid deposition which harms soil and vegetation.
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