Scientists witness Mother Nature taking a breath

Earth Observation Scientists at the University of Leicester have managed to measure the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) inhaled by plants from space. The team took 20 000 individual measurements a month, monitoring the CO2 drawn down from space by plants in Siberia, North America and Northern Europe (Picture © scenta)

- By Hermen Westerbeeke

Scientists have managed to measure the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) inhaled by plants from space. Earth Observation Scientists at the University of Leicester are now aware of the signal showing the amount of CO₂ taken in by vegetation for the first time.

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) hails the project as one of its top achievements of the year.

By using the Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric Chartography (SCIAMACHY) on Envisat - the largest Earth observation satellite ever built - the scientists could measure atmospheric traces of gas by observing reflected and scattered sunlight.

The team took 20 000 individual measurements a month, monitoring the CO₂ drawn down by plants in Siberia, North America and Northern Europe.

Paul Monks, of the University's Department of Chemistry, said: "Usually researchers put up a tower and measure carbon dioxide concentrations in the surrounding kilometres, but we are taking high precision measurements on a continental scale - this is exciting as it allows us to see nature in action from space and begin to understand the role the natural system has in controlling carbon dioxide.

"Analysing a year's measurements for each continent takes 12 weeks of computer time on 60 processors, and we can actually see streaks of low carbon dioxide where the vegetation is sucking it out of the atmosphere during the growing season," he said.

The importance of breathing plant life

The SCIAMACHY work on carbon dioxide at Leicester has been funded by NERC's Centre for Observation of Air-Sea Interactions and Fluxes (CASIX) and will provide important information for policy makers and scientists alike.

Dr Monks said: "With the rapid changes in the Earth's climate that are now taking place, this kind of research is vital to preserving the planet's health.

Envisat was launched in 2002, and is the European space Agency's environmental satellite, which circles the Earth 14 times a day at a speed of seven kilometres per second. About 250 gigabytes of data products are generated every day, providing information for immediate use and building up an archive for future generations of scientists to use.

Source: http://www.scenta.co.uk