AIRS and AMSU: Trace Gases (CO2, CO, CH4, O3...); Level 3
AIRS provides satellite retrieval of mid-tropospheric carbon dioxide even under cloudy conditions, without the use of a priori information from models. AIRS retrievals use cloud-cleared thermal IR radiance spectra in the 15 micron band with an accuracy better than 2 ppm. AIRS retrievals have been used to produce global maps of carbon dioxide and other trace gases including ozone, methane, and carbon monoxide.
Key Strengths
Near global coverage with high horizontal and vertical resolutions and frequent sampling
Key Limitations
Inconsistent sampling with latitude
Cite this page
Acknowledgement of any material taken from or knowledge gained from this page is appreciated:
National Center for Atmospheric Research Staff (Eds). Last modified "The Climate Data Guide: AIRS and AMSU: Trace Gases (CO2, CO, CH4, O3...); Level 3.” Retrieved from https://climatedataguide.ucar.edu/climate-data/airs-and-amsu-trace-gases-co2-co-ch4-o3-level-3 on 2025-07-18.
Citation of datasets is separate and should be done according to the data providers' instructions. If known to us, data citation instructions are given in the Data Access section, above.
Acknowledgement of the Climate Data Guide project is also appreciated:
Schneider, D. P., C. Deser, J. Fasullo, and K. E. Trenberth, 2013: Climate Data Guide Spurs Discovery and Understanding. Eos Trans. AGU, 94, 121–122, https://doi.org/10.1002/2013eo130001
Key Figures
CO2 for February, 2012 derived from Level 3 version 5.9 AIRS and MSU retrievals. Ascending and descending nodes were combined. Top: average CO2; middle: standard deviation of observations; bottom: the observation count. (Climate Data Guide; D. Shea)
AIRS sensitivity to carbon dioxide with altitude. Source: http://airs.jpl.nasa.gov/data/about_airs_co2_data/
CO (carbon monoxide) for ascending and descending nodes of AIRS for February, 2013. (Climate Data Guide; D. Shea)
CH4 (methane) for ascending and descending nodes of AIRS for February, 2013 at three levels: 51, 60, 67 hPa. (Climate Data Guide; D. Shea)
Other Information
1x1, 2x2.5, assorted levels
- Chahine, M.T. et al. (2008): Satellite Remote Sounding of Mid-Tropospheric CO2 . Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, September
- Strow, L.L. & S.E. Hannon (2008): A 4-year Zonal Climatology of Lower Tropospheric CO2 Derived from Ocean-Only Atmospheric Infrared Sounder Observations. J. Geophys. Res., 29
- Engelen, R.J et al (2009): Four Dimensional Data Assimilation of Atmospheric CO2 Using AIRS Observations.
- Maddy, E.S. et al (2009): CO2 Retrievals from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder: Methodology and Validation
- Rajab, J. M. et al (2012), Methane Interannual Distribution over Peninsular Malaysia from Atmospheric Infrared Sounder Data: 2003-2009, Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 12(6), 1459-1466
- Zhang, Y. et al (2012): Retrieval of methane profiles from spaceborne hyperspectral infrared observations. J. of Remote Sensing, v. 16, no. 2, p. 232-247
- Xiong, X. et al (2008): Characterization and validation of methane products from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), J. Geophys. Res., 113, G00A01