Spatiotemporal observations of CH4 and CO2 over Iraq using Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) data

Abstract

Methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) are the most important greenhouse gases and most important climate forcing agents due to their significant impact on climate, and their concentrations have been increased since the pre-industrial time by 150 and 40 % respectively, basically from fossil fuel combustion and land-use change emissions. In this research, the atmospheric concentration of CH4 and CO2 over Iraq is measured by the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS). Time series and time-averaged maps were generated to study and analyse the distribution of CH4 and CO2 concentrations. The results show a significant increase of these two gases with an average increase (3.5 and 5.11 ppbv/ year ) in a rate of (2.69 % and 4 %) for CH4 at SPL 925 hPa and 400 hPa, respectively ; the average increase of CO2 is (1.85 ppm/ year) represent (3.31%) for the whole period. The considerable increase of CH4 and CO2 concentration can affect human healthiness and earth radiative balance. Also, the Satellite observation of AIRS can efficiently show the spatiotemporal variations of CH4 and CO2 for the study area.