Abstract
The Methane Remote Sensing Lidar Mission (MERLIN), currently in phase B, is a joint cooperation between France and Germany on the development, launch and operation of a methane (CH4) monitoring satellite. MERLIN is focused on global measurements of the spatial and temporal gradients of atmospheric CH4, the second most anthropogenic gas, with a precision and accuracy sufficient to constrain Methane fluxes significantly better than with the current observation network.For the first time, measurements of atmospheric composition will be performed from space thanks to an IPDA (Integrated Path Differential Absorption) LIDAR (Light Detecting And Ranging). This payload is under the responsibility of the German space agency (DLR), while the platform (MYRIADE Evolutions product line) is developed by the French space agency (CNES). The IPDA technique relies on DIAL (Differential Absorption LIDAR) measurements using a pulsed laser emitting at two wavelengths, one wavelength accurately locked on a spectral feature of the methane absorption line, and the other wavelength free from absorption to be used as reference. This technique enables measurements in all seasons, at all latitudes. It also guarantees almost no contamination by aerosols or water vapour cross-sensitivity, and thus has the advantage of an extremely low level of systematic error on the dry-air column mixing ratio of CH4.
Highlights
Carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) have been recognized by the International Panel of Climate Change (IPCC) [1] as the major greenhouse gases whose concentration has been directly modified by human activities.The Methane Remote Sensing Lidar Mission (MERLIN), aims at global measurements of the spatial and temporal gradients of atmospheric CH4, the second most anthropogenic gas, with a precision and accuracy sufficient to constrain Methane fluxes significantly better than with the current observation network.We show here an overview of the MERLIN mission: its science objectives, the measurement principle and the related expected performances, the status of the project, including details on the space segment, the ground segment and the orbit.2
MERLIN is focused on global measurements of the spatial and temporal gradients of atmospheric CH4, the second most anthropogenic gas, with a precision and accuracy sufficient to constrain Methane fluxes significantly better than with the current observation network
Measurements of atmospheric composition will be performed from space thanks to an IPDA (Integrated Path Differential Absorption) LIDAR (Light Detecting And Ranging)
Summary
Carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) have been recognized by the International Panel of Climate Change (IPCC) [1] as the major greenhouse gases whose concentration has been directly modified by human activities. We show here an overview of the MERLIN mission: its science objectives, the measurement principle and the related expected performances, the status of the project, including details on the space segment, the ground segment and the orbit
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