Sensing NO2 Emissions to Evaluate net-Zero Initiatives: SNEEZI. Developing a new satellite instrument for the detection of nitrogen dioxide.
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Edinburgh
Department Name: College of Science and Engineering
Abstract
Plain language summary
Avoiding the worst impacts of future climate change relies on measuring and reducing emissions of atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHGs), with carbon dioxide (CO2) having the largest impact. Existing approaches to CO2 measurement suffer from large uncertainties and low resolution, and struggle to separate natural and man-made emissions. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), co-emitted with CO2 during burning of fossil fuels, is an appealing observation target as it is primarily linked with human CO2 emissions, is more easily detected from smaller and cheaper satellites, and has a short chemical lifetime, allowing emission sources to be localised. NO2 measurements are also valuable due to the molecule's role as a major pollutant. SNEEZI (Sensing NO2 Emissions to Evaluate net-Zero Initiatives), is a new Earth Observation instrument designed to measure NO2 at high resolution from a constellation of small satellites. During the grant period, in collaboration with the UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UK ATC), we will undertake mission requirements capture, business case development, conceptual design of the SNEEZI satellite instrument, and laboratory trials of the core technology basis, building on existing instrument concepts.
Summary for publication
Combustion of fossil fuels contributes the majority of anthropogenic CO2 emissions, but existing strategies to measure and isolate these emissions have significant limitations, both for bottom-up and top-down approaches, with the low spatial and temporal resolution of satellite observations an important factor. SNEEZI (Sensing NO2 Emissions to Evaluate net-Zero Initiatives), significantly improves both the spatial and temporal resolution of CO2 observations by using measurements of NO2, a CO2 tracer that is co-emitted during incomplete combustion. NO2 is directly linked to combustion emissions, helping separate natural and anthropogenic CO2 sources; can be measured with much higher spatial resolution from satellite instruments than CO2; and has a short chemical lifetime resulting in observable plumes close to the point of emission. NO2 is also an important pollutant, with significant human health impacts. SNEEZI will deliver a global, high-spatial resolution dataset of tropospheric NO2 using a constellation of instruments in a bespoke orbital configuration. A sophisticated data analysis framework will deliver timely and reliable information about combustion CO2 emissions from cities and individual assets to help deliver net zero goals and meet air quality targets. SNEEZI builds on the High-resolution Anthropogenic Pollution Imager (HAPI) concept, developed by the University of Leicester, UK ATC, and Thales-Alenia, and brings in learnings from the University of Edinburgh's work developing the Near Infrared Multispectral Camera for Atmospheric Methane (NIMCAM). During the grant period, in collaboration with the UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UK ATC), we will undertake mission requirements capture, business case development, conceptual design of the SNEEZI satellite instrument, and laboratory trials of the core technology basis, building on these existing instrument concepts. SNEEZI brings benefits for the UK including: developing our first in-house GHG monitoring satellite with unique observational capabilities; providing a clear demonstration of UK strengths in end-to-end space mission design and execution; a competitive entry into a fast growing EO market; and capitalisation on rapid expansion in the New Space Sector, especially in Scotland.
Avoiding the worst impacts of future climate change relies on measuring and reducing emissions of atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHGs), with carbon dioxide (CO2) having the largest impact. Existing approaches to CO2 measurement suffer from large uncertainties and low resolution, and struggle to separate natural and man-made emissions. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), co-emitted with CO2 during burning of fossil fuels, is an appealing observation target as it is primarily linked with human CO2 emissions, is more easily detected from smaller and cheaper satellites, and has a short chemical lifetime, allowing emission sources to be localised. NO2 measurements are also valuable due to the molecule's role as a major pollutant. SNEEZI (Sensing NO2 Emissions to Evaluate net-Zero Initiatives), is a new Earth Observation instrument designed to measure NO2 at high resolution from a constellation of small satellites. During the grant period, in collaboration with the UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UK ATC), we will undertake mission requirements capture, business case development, conceptual design of the SNEEZI satellite instrument, and laboratory trials of the core technology basis, building on existing instrument concepts.
Summary for publication
Combustion of fossil fuels contributes the majority of anthropogenic CO2 emissions, but existing strategies to measure and isolate these emissions have significant limitations, both for bottom-up and top-down approaches, with the low spatial and temporal resolution of satellite observations an important factor. SNEEZI (Sensing NO2 Emissions to Evaluate net-Zero Initiatives), significantly improves both the spatial and temporal resolution of CO2 observations by using measurements of NO2, a CO2 tracer that is co-emitted during incomplete combustion. NO2 is directly linked to combustion emissions, helping separate natural and anthropogenic CO2 sources; can be measured with much higher spatial resolution from satellite instruments than CO2; and has a short chemical lifetime resulting in observable plumes close to the point of emission. NO2 is also an important pollutant, with significant human health impacts. SNEEZI will deliver a global, high-spatial resolution dataset of tropospheric NO2 using a constellation of instruments in a bespoke orbital configuration. A sophisticated data analysis framework will deliver timely and reliable information about combustion CO2 emissions from cities and individual assets to help deliver net zero goals and meet air quality targets. SNEEZI builds on the High-resolution Anthropogenic Pollution Imager (HAPI) concept, developed by the University of Leicester, UK ATC, and Thales-Alenia, and brings in learnings from the University of Edinburgh's work developing the Near Infrared Multispectral Camera for Atmospheric Methane (NIMCAM). During the grant period, in collaboration with the UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UK ATC), we will undertake mission requirements capture, business case development, conceptual design of the SNEEZI satellite instrument, and laboratory trials of the core technology basis, building on these existing instrument concepts. SNEEZI brings benefits for the UK including: developing our first in-house GHG monitoring satellite with unique observational capabilities; providing a clear demonstration of UK strengths in end-to-end space mission design and execution; a competitive entry into a fast growing EO market; and capitalisation on rapid expansion in the New Space Sector, especially in Scotland.