Satellites create new transparency
Europe is entering a new era of earth observation. From 2027, CO2M satellites will for the first time provide comprehensive, high-resolution measurement data on CO2 and methane, right down to individual industrial plants. The necessary technologies were developed by Empa research teams, who are thus making a key contribution to global emissions monitoring.
Bild: ESA
The CO2M satellite mission represents a turning point in the detection of greenhouse gases. The originally planned two satellites were extended by a third satellite following Empa simulations. This shortens the global measurement period from five to around 3.5 days. Instead of narrow measurement strips, the instruments will in future provide comprehensive maps with a resolution of two kilometers. This will make emissions from individual countries, cities and industrial sources visible. The mission is anchored in the EU’s Copernicus Earth observation program and is being developed by ESA and later operated by EUMETSAT.
Nitrogen dioxide data reveals inaccuracies
At the same time, the CORSO project is creating a global data set of large emitters such as power plants, cement works and steel factories. Comparisons of databases with TROPOMI satellite measurements show significant deviations. Plants that do not even exist, missing entries and incorrect assumptions about fuels. In the case of dual-fuel power plants in particular, it was shown that in many places gas is primarily used instead of oil, which results in lower nitrogen oxide levels. These findings form the basis for mapping CO2 with comparable precision in the future.
Perspective on global climate progress
The new measuring instruments expand the possibility of monitoring man-made emissions precisely and continuously. Air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides can already be reliably quantified today. With the CO2M satellites, this capability will be transferred to greenhouse gases. This creates a data-based view from space that shows in detail whether international climate targets are actually being achieved.