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Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences

Volume 47, 2019

Global Patterns of Carbon Dioxide Variability from Satellite Observations

Abstract

Advanced satellite technology has been providing unique observations of global carbon dioxide (CO) concentrations. These observations have revealed important CO variability at different timescales and over regional and planetary scales. Satellite CO retrievals have revealed that stratospheric sudden warming and the Madden-Julian Oscillation can modulate atmospheric CO concentrations in the mid-troposphere. Atmospheric CO also demonstrates variability at interannual timescales. In the tropical region, the El Niño–Southern Oscillation and the Tropospheric Biennial Oscillation can change atmospheric CO concentrations. At high latitudes, mid-tropospheric CO concentrations can be influenced by the Northern Hemispheric annular mode. In addition to modulations by the large-scale circulations, sporadic events such as wildfires, volcanic eruptions, and droughts, which change CO surface emissions, can cause atmospheric CO concentrations to increase significantly. The natural variability of CO summarized in this review can help us better understand its sources and sinks and its redistribution by atmospheric motion.

  • ▪  Global satellite CO data offer a unique opportunity to explore CO variability in different regions.
  • ▪  Atmospheric CO concentration demonstrates variations at intraseasonal, seasonal, and interannual timescales.
  • ▪  Both large-scale circulations and variations of surface emissions can modulate CO concentrations in the atmosphere.

Keyword(s): CO2 annual cycle, CO2 semiannual cycle, drought, El Niño–Southern Oscillation, intraseasonal variability, monsoon, Northern Annular Mode, wildfire
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2019-05-30
2024-04-19
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/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-earth-053018-060447
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Global Patterns of Carbon Dioxide Variability from Satellite Observations
Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences 47, 225 (2019); https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-earth-053018-060447
/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-earth-053018-060447
/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-earth-053018-060447
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