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TanSat (Chinese Carbon Dioxide Observation Satellite Mission)

Oct 29, 2012

EO

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Atmosphere

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Cloud type, amount and cloud top temperature

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Aerosols

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TanSat, also known as CarbonSat, was the first Chinese minisatellite dedicated to the detection and monitoring of carbon dioxide. Launched in December 2016, the mission’s objectives were to improve the understanding of the global carbon dioxide distribution and its contribution to climate change, and also monitor the carbon dioxide variation on seasonal time scales. The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) undertakes the leading role of funding in the satellite development with two scientific instruments designed and manufactured by Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics/Chinese Academy of Sciences (CIOMP/CAS).

Quick facts

Overview

Mission typeEO
AgencyNRSCC, NSMC-CMA
Mission statusMission complete
Launch date21 Dec 2016
End of life date01 Jan 2020
Measurement domainAtmosphere
Measurement categoryCloud type, amount and cloud top temperature, Aerosols, Trace gases (excluding ozone)
Measurement detailedCloud cover, Aerosol optical depth (column/profile), CO2 Mole Fraction
InstrumentsACGS, CAPI
Instrument typeImaging multi-spectral radiometers (vis/IR), Atmospheric chemistry
CEOS EO HandbookSee TanSat (Chinese Carbon Dioxide Observation Satellite Mission) summary

Related Resources

TanSat, launched in 2016, is China's first global carbon dioxide monitoring satellite (Image credit: CFP)


 

Summary

Mission Capabilities

TanSat was equipped with two instruments, the Carbon Dioxide Spectrometer (CarbonSpec) and the Cloud and Aerosol Polarimetry imager (CAPI), integrated into a common structure and electronics device to enhance system efficiency and reliability. CarbonSpec was a high-resolution grating spectrometer dedicated to the carbon dioxide detection by measuring the near-infrared absorption of carbon dioxide and the molecular oxygen in reflected sunlight. CAPI was a wide Field of View (FOV) moderate resolution imaging spectrometer used to compensate and correct cloud and aerosol interference errors from CarbonSpec’s measurements.

Performance Specifications

CarbonSpec was a push-broom scanning high-resolution grating spectrometer that measured in three spectral ranges corresponding to carbon dioxide and oxygen energy levels. It measured in the oxygen A-band at 758nm - 778 nm with a spectral resolution of 0.044 nm and two carbon dioxide bands: 1594-1624 nm with a spectral resolution of 0.12 nm, and 2042 nm-2082 nm with a spectral resolution of 0.16 nm. It had a spatial resolution of 2 km x 2 km and swath width of 20 km. CAPI was a multispectral radiometer that recorded images in five spectral channels between 365 nm and 1654 nm with a spatial resolution of 0.5 km over a 400 km wide swath. 

TanSat was in a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 700 km with an orbital inclination of 98.2°. The orbital period of these satellites was 90 minutes with a 16-day repeat cycle.

Space and Hardware Components

TanSat was a minisatellite that was designed and developed by the Shanghai Institute of Microsystems and Information Technology (SIMIT). It had a launch mass of about 620 kg, dimensions of 150 cm x 180 cm x 185 cm and a design lifetime of three years. TanSat featured a propulsion system consisting of four 1N hydrazine thrusters with 10 kg of propellant on board. The Tracking, Telemetry and Telecommand (TT&C) subsystem consisted of an S-band link between the satellite and the ground system with and uplink data rate of 2 kbit/s and a downlink of 8.192 kbit/s
The National Satellite Meteorological Centre (NSMC) of the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) was responsible for the ground segment and the final data products.  The ground segment consists of three systems; the ground data management system which was based on the ground segment of the Feng Yun satellite series of China, the carbon dioxide ground monitoring network for detecting and monitoring carbon dioxide with six-ground based instruments, and the carbon dioxide retrieval system for the the retrieval of  observation data from TanSat and the provision of carbon dioxide data products. 

TanSat was launched on December 21, 2016 on a Chinese Long March 2D vehicle from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in China. The mission came to an end in January 2020.

TanSat (Chinese Carbon Dioxide Observation Satellite Mission)

Spacecraft     Launch    Mission Status     Sensor Complement    Ground Segment    References

The TanSat (CarbonSat, Tan means “carbon” in Chinese) mission is the first minisatellite of China dedicated to the carbon dioxide (CO2) detection and monitoring. The project was proposed in the Chinese national program in 2010, and officially kicked off in January 2011. TanSat is funded by MOST (Ministry of Science and Technology) of China.

The project includes 4 research topics: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6)

• A high-resolution Carbon Dioxide Spectrometer for measuring the near-infrared absorption by CO2

• CAPI (Cloud and Aerosol Polarimetry Imager) to compensate the CO2 measurement errors by high-resolution measurement of cloud and aerosol

• A spacecraft equipped with the two instruments, capable of performing scientific observations in multiple ways as mission required

• A ground segment which receives observation data and retrieves the atmosphere column-averaged CO2 dry air mole fraction (XCO2), and performs data validation by ground-based CO2 monitoring.

CAS (Chinese Academy of Sciences) undertakes the leading role of funding in the satellite development, with two scientific instruments designed and manufactured by CIOMP/CAS (Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics/Chinese Academy of Sciences), located in Changchun, China. The satellite platform is developed by SIMIT (Shanghai Institute of Microsystems and Information Technology), which is also responsible for the overall satellite assembly, integration and testing. NSMC (National Satellite Meteorological Center) of CMA (China Meteorological Administration) is responsible for the ground segment and final data products. - The project includes also international partners: The University of Leicester and the University of Edinburgh, UK.

The main objective of the TanSat mission is to retrieve the atmosphere column-averaged CO2 dry air mole fraction (XCO2) with precisions of 1% (4 ppm) on national and global scales. The scientific goal of the project is to improve the understanding on the global CO2 distribution and its contribution to the climate change, and also to monitor the CO2 variation on seasonal time scales.

The following system requirements pertain to the TanSat mission:

1) The TanSat satellite shall fly in a sun-synchronous orbit at 13:30 hours, with a revisit period shorter than 16 days; the deviation of the equator crossing time shall be shorter than 15 minutes during 3 years.

2) The TanSat satellite shall be able to carry out nadir observations, sun-glint observations, and target observations.

3) The TanSat satellite shall be able to perform in-orbit spectrometric calibration and radiometric calibration for both instruments, Carbon Dioxide Spectrometer and CAPI, with an absolute accuracy of 5%, and a relative accuracy of 3%.

4) The localization accuracy of each instrument shall be better than one pixel.

5) The observation data shall be transmitted to the ground within eight hours.

6) The atmosphere column-averaged CO2 dry air mole fraction (XCO2) shall be retrieved with precisions of 1% (4 ppm).

7) A ground-based CO2 monitoring network shall be set up, with CO2 detection accuracy of 0.2 ppmv.

8) The TanSat satellite shall operate in orbit for at least three years.

“Special Topic: Greenhouse Gas Observation From Space: Theory and Application,” 7)

Preface by Daren Lü and Liu Yi:

It is well known that the increases in atmospheric CO2 and CH4, long-term GHGs (Greenhouse Gases owing to anthropogenic activity, are the dominant processes driving the global climate change. Spaceborne measurements of GHGs with high precision, resolution, and global coverage are urgently needed to characterize the geographic distribution of their sources and sinks, and to quantify their roles in the atmospheric CO2 budget. Over the past 10 years, programs of ESA, NASA, and JAXA have initiated different satellite missions to achieve these goals, including the SCIAMACHY (Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric Cartography) instrument on Envisat, the OCO (Orbiting Carbon Observatory) mission, and the GOSAT (Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite). All these missions contributed to a tremendous improvement in satellite measurement capabilities. For example, since the launch of GOSAT in 2009, a measurement precision of 1.5 ppm in the column-averaged CO2 dry-air mole fraction (XCO2) has recently been achieved, while the regional CO2 flux has been estimated using both GOSAT and ground-based CO2 observations.

As a large developing country, China has the highest levels of GHG emissions. The Chinese government seeks to meet the needs of sustainable development, and hence, is committed to reducing its GHG emissions. In 2011, CAS (Chinese Academy of Sciences) began a 5-year program known as the Strategic Priority Research Program of CAS — Climate Change: Carbon Budget and Relevant Issues (Carbon Budget). It aims to provide a scientific basis for scientific and economic policy decisions, and to formulate new development plans to meet the demands of climate change and the carbon budget. Satellite measurements of GHG emissions are a key component of this program. In the same year, a National High Technology Research & Development Program — Chinese Carbon Dioxide Observation Satellite mission (TanSat) was sponsored by MOST (Ministry of Science and Technology) of China. TanSat will carry two instruments into space:Carbon Spec (Hyperspectral grating Spectrometer for CO2) and a moderate-resolution polarization imaging spectrometer called CAPI (Cloud and Aerosol Polarimetry Imager). Both programs promote the development of theory, technology, and applications of GHG measurements from space.

The main focus of this special topic is the remote sensing theory behind XCO2 retrievals, inverse CO2 flux methods, satellite data applications, and the validation of satellite measurements. Nine research articles accepted for publication on this special topic provide a theoretical basis for the TanSat mission. These articles address: the optimal design of spectral sampling rate and range of CO2 absorption bands for TanSat hyperspectral spectrometers, surface pressure retrieval from hyperspectral measurements in the oxygen A band, CH4 retrieval in the shortwave infrared and thermal infrared bands, aerosol retrieval from polarization reflectance, XCO2 retrieval from ground-based high spectral resolution solar absorption measurements, observations and modeling of CO2 diurnal variations, the Carbon Cycle Data Assimilation System (Tan-Tracker), and finally China’s sizeable and uncertain carbon sink: A perspective from GOSAT. We believe it is very important for Chinese scientists to strengthen their collaborations in all aspects of research related to GHGs, including satellite design, XCO2 retrieval, inverse flux modeling, in situ surface measurements, and validation techniques, to build up an integrated ground-air-space network for GHG measurements in the near future.

Articles:

1) Liu Yi, Zhaonan Cai, Dongxu Yang , Yuquan Zheng, Minzheng Duan, Daren Lü, “Effects of spectral sampling rate and range of CO2 absorption bands on XCO2 retrieval from TanSat hyperspectral spectrometer.”

2) Hailei Liu, Minzheng Duan, Daren Lü, Yan Zhang, “Algorithm for retrieving surface pressure from hyper-spectral measurements in oxygen A-band.”

3) Jianbo Deng, Yi Liu, Dongxu Yang, Zhaonan Cai, “CH4 retrieval from hyperspectral satellite measurements in short-wave infrared: sensitivity study and preliminary test with GOSAT data.”

4) Ying Zhang, Xiaozhen Xiong, Jinhua Tao, Chao Yu, Mingmin Zou, Lin Su, Liangfu Chen, “Methane retrieval from Atmospheric Infrared Sounder using EOF-based regression algorithm and its validation.”

5) Guangming Shi, Chengcai Li Tong Ren, “Sensitivity analysis of single-angle polarization reflectance observed by satellite.”

6) Yinan Wang, Daren Lü, Qian Li, Minzheng Duan, Fei Hu, Shunxing Hu, “Observed and simulated features of the CO2 diurnal cycle in the boundary layer at Beijing and Hefei, China.”

7) Jian Li, Chengcai Li, Jietai Mao, Dongwei Yang, Dong Wang, Lin Mei, Guangming Shi, Yefang Wang, Xia Mao, “Retrieval of column-averaged volume mixing ratio of CO2 with ground-based high spectral resolution solar absorption.”

8) Xiangjun Tian, Zhenghui Xie, Zhaonan Cai, Liu Yi, Yu Fu, Huifang Zhang, “The Chinese carbon cycle data-assimilation system (Tan-Tracker).”

9) Li Zhang, Jingfeng Xiao, Li Li, Liping Lei, Jing Li, “China’s sizeable and uncertain carbon sink: a perspective from GOSAT.”

 

Team leader

Mission/Responsibility

Zengshan Yin: Shanghai Engineering Center for Microsatellites

Team leader and Satellite platform

Yuquan Zheng: Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics

Carbon Dioxide Spectrometer

Changxiang Yan: Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics

CAPI (Cloud and Aerosol Polarization Imager)

Zhongdong Yang: National Satellite Meteorological Center, CMA

Data receiver, Calibration and Operational Process

Liu Yi: IAP/CAS (Institute of Atmospheric Physics/Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Science requirement, CO2 Retrieval Algorithm, Validation and Application

Xiangjun Tian: IAP/CAS

CO2 Flux inversion

Chengcai Li: Beijing University

Aerosol and cloud Retrieval Algorithm for CAPI

Table 1: Team of the TanSat project 8) 9)



 

Spacecraft

The TanSat minisatellite is designed and developed at SIMIT (Shanghai Institute of Microsystems and Information Technology). The configuration of TanSat is as shown in Figure 1. The payload is accommodated on the +Xs side of the platform, with the instrument boresight pointing to the +Zs. The solar arrays are on the ±Ys side of TanSat, with the solar cells always pointing to the –Xs after deployment. The overall volume of the TanSat satellite is about 150 cm (Ys) x 180 cm (Zs) x 185 cm (Xs). The launch mass of TanSat is about 620 kg (including 10 kg propellant), the design life is 3 years.

The pointing strategy of TanSat is rather complex due to the different requirements of the observation tasks. TanSat is designed to have eleven pointing modes as defined in Table 2. The pointing modes from No.1 to No.9 are designed with regard to the requirements of different observation tasks specified in the above. The Forward Nadir Pointing is also designed as a nominal pointing in the umbra times. The Solar Panel Pointing is dedicated to battery charging, especially in satellite safe mode. 10)

Figure 1: Configuration of the TanSat spacecraft (image credit: SIMIT)
Figure 1: Configuration of the TanSat spacecraft (image credit: SIMIT)

Number

Pointing mode

Attitude description

1

Principal plane nadir

Zs points along nadir, under principal plane constraints

2

Sun-glint pointing

Zs points to Sun-glint location, under principal plane constraints

3

Forward nadir

+Xs points along velocity, Zs points along nadir

4

Backward nadir

-Xs points along velocity, Zs points along nadir

5

Target pointing

+Zs points to the target, small sinusoidal periodic slew on pitch axis

6

Area steering

Fixed roll angle, maneuver on pitch axis, decreasing velocity to Earth surface

7

Direct solar pointing

Xs points to the sun, periodic slewing, -90º mirror rotation

8

Diffusion solar pointing

Zs points to the sun with 15º bias on pitch axis, 180º mirror rotation

9

Moon pointing

Zs points to the moon, small sinusoidal periodic slew on pitch axis

10

Solar panel pointing

-Xs points to the sun, Ys is parallel to Earth equator plane

11

Attitude slew

For pointing mode change

Table 2: Summary of TanSat pointing modes

AOCS (Attitude and Orbit Control Subsystem): TanSat is a three-axis stabilized spacecraft. The architecture of the attitude control subsystem includes:

• Actuators: 4 reaction wheels, 4 torque-rods, 4 hydrazine thrusters

• Sensors: 3 sun sensors, 2 three-axial magnetometers, 2 star trackers, 2 gyros, 1 GPS receiver.

AOCS exploits these sensors and actuators and is capable of attitude determination and stabilized mission pointing specified as follows:

• Attitude pointing accuracy: ≤ 0.1º

• Attitude measurement accuracy: ≤ 0.03º

• Pointing stability: ≤ 0.001º/s.

EPS (Electric Power Subsystem): The power subsystem manages the generation, storage and distribution of the electrical power needed by the spacecraft subsystems. By different combinations of observation tasks during one orbit, there are many different cases of power consumption and generation for the onboard battery. Based on analysis of all possible combinations, the TanSat is equipped with solar panels of 10 m2 in size, which ensures an end of life power generation of 1790 W. A high performance Li-battery is selected for power storage, with an overall capacity of 80 Ah. The nominal bus voltage is 28 V.

OBDH (OnBoard Data Handling) subsystem: TanSat has a centralized high performance data handling system, with a TSC695F CPU for central command control. The onboard computer controls and commands the activities of all the other satellite subsystems, and fulfils functions including flight dynamics control, AOCS data processing, payload data management, telemetry control, power and thermal control, and so on. The onboard computer communicates with the payload computer and other subsystems through the CAN bus. Figure 2 shows the EM (Engineering Model) of the TanSat onboard computer.

Figure 2: Engineering Model of the OBC (image credit: SIMIT)
Figure 2: Engineering Model of the OBC (image credit: SIMIT)

Propulsion subsystem: TanSat features a propulsion subsystem to maintain the nominal orbit during the satellite lifetime, especially in terms of the orbit height and the equator crossing local time. Four 1N hydrazine thrusters are placed on the –Xs panel of the platform. A 20 liter capacity tank is selected with 10 kg propellant.

TT&C (Tracking, Telemetry and Telecommand) subsystem: An S-band TM/TC link provides the control and telemetry between TanSat and the ground station for satellite monitoring and control. The subsystem provides bidirectional and full-duplex communication, with an uplink data rate of 2 k bit/s and a downlink data rate of 8.192 kbit/s.

The onboard storage and communication subsystem stores the observation data transmitted through an LVDS (Low Voltage Differential Signaling) interface by the payload, and transmits data to the ground stations via an X-band link with a data rate of 64Mbit/s. The capacity of onboard storage is 128 Gbit. Other than an X-band antenna along the +Zs axis, the satellite uses a second tilted antenna to increase the on-board-to-ground communication time during Sun-glint observations, as shown in Figure .

Figure 3: Schematic view of the X-band antennas (image credit: SIMIT)
Figure 3: Schematic view of the X-band antennas (image credit: SIMIT)
Figure 4: Photo of the TanSat Chinese Carbon Dioxide Observation Satellite (image credit: NRSCC, ESA) 11)
Figure 4: Photo of the TanSat Chinese Carbon Dioxide Observation Satellite (image credit: NRSCC, ESA) 11)

 

TanSat Project Status/Milestones

• Dec. 2014: planned CDR (Critical Design Review)

• July 2014: Electromechanical integration

• June 2013: Start of Phase C

• March 2013: PDR (Preliminary Design Review)

• Sept. 2011: SRR (Science Requirement Review)

• Feb. 2012: Kick-off of project


Launch

The TanSat (CarbonSat) satellite was launched on December 21, 2016 (19:22 UTC) on a long March 2D vehicle from JSLC (Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center), China. 12) 13) 14)

China is the third country after Japan and the United States to monitor greenhouse gases through its own satellite.

• March 2016: According to correspondence with Prof. Liu Yi of IAP/CAS, there were several occasions for discussions with NASA Management to integrate the TanSat mission into the NASA-managed international A-Train constellation of Earth-observing satellites. It would make sense to have the TanSat mission of China and the OCO-2 (Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2) mission of NASA in the same constellation. However, after discussions with Michael Freilich, Earth Science Director of NASA, who attended a TanSat workshop at IAP/CAS, Beijing, in Sept. 2015, the TanSat project decided to drop the A-Train option, due to the complicated requirements and operational procedures for all participants in the A-Train. 15)

- Results and outlook: The TanSat project has the possibility to cooperate with the participants in the A-Train, since the orbits of the A-Train and the TanSat mission are very close to each other.

Orbit: Sun-synchronous orbit, altitude of ~ 700 km, inclination = 98.2º, LTAN (Local Time on Ascending Node) = 13:30 hours. The revisit period is 16 days.

Figure 5: Artist's rendition of the deployed TanSat spacecraft (image credit: TanSat collaboration)
Figure 5: Artist's rendition of the deployed TanSat spacecraft (image credit: TanSat collaboration)

Secondary payloads: The launch vehicle carried also a high-resolution microsatellite and two spectrum nanosatellites for agricultural and forestry monitoring (Ref. 12).

Figure 6: Initially proposed orbit of the TanSat spacecraft in the international A-Train (Afternoon Constellation) of Earth-observing satellites, managed by NASA (image credit: IAP/CAS)
Figure 6: Initially proposed orbit of the TanSat spacecraft in the international A-Train (Afternoon Constellation) of Earth-observing satellites, managed by NASA (image credit: IAP/CAS)



 

Mission Status

• March 16, 2021: SIF (Solar-Induced chlorophyll Fluorescence) is emitted during plant photosynthesis. SIF results from vegetation chlorophyll giving off red and infrared light wavelengths when excited by solar radiation. Measuring SIF is important because it is closely related to the terrestrial gross primary productivity (GPP), which calculates the total amount of carbon dioxide fixed through photosynthesis in a given area. According to many laboratory and field experiments, studies show that SIF can effectively improve estimations of GPP, which is necessary for global carbon sink research and carbon mitigation strategies. 16)

Figure 7: The first TanSat global SIF map (image credit: TanSat)
Figure 7: The first TanSat global SIF map (image credit: TanSat)

- China has committed to carbon neutrality by 2060. Technological upgrades and energy structure adjustments through the next four decades will be vital to reducing carbon emissions. However, the goal is even more attainable considering the large natural carbon sink provided by plants. Expanding the capacity of the terrestrial ecosystem allows natural carbon fixation to provide a more direct and efficient path toward a carbon neutral future. Therefore, scientists must assess the natural carbon sink accurately to evaluate current and forthcoming carbon neutrality implementation plans.

- Supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the China Meteorological Administration, the Chinese Carbon Dioxide Monitoring Satellite Mission (TanSat) was launched in December 2016. TanSat monitors global atmospheric CO2 concentrations and is capable of measuring SIF.

- The first TanSat global SIF map was constructed using a data-driven method based on the SVD (singular value decomposition) technique. TanSat now retrieves its SIF product from a new physical-based algorithm named IAPCAS/SIF. This algorithm is based on the CAS Institute of Atmospheric Physics Carbon Dioxide Retrieval Algorithm for Satellite Remote Sensing Platform, which maps global atmospheric CO2 distribution. The IAPCAS/SIF [ Institute of Atmospheric Physic Chinese Academy of Sciences/SIF (Solar-Induced chlorophyll Fluorescence)] algorithm provides SIF emission data from two micro-windows, 757 nm and 771 nm, within the O2 A-band.

- Due to spatial scale differences, it is difficult to directly verify the accuracy and precision of satellite-measured SIF with SIF measured at the leaf or canopy scale. Much like satellite-based XCO2 products, SIF retrievals still need more comprehensive verification trials that assess precision for further carbon flux estimations.

- "The intercomparison between SIF products by different algorithms can verify the reliability of the algorithms, and also provide ideas for subsequent algorithm optimization," said Dr. Dongxu YANG, the principal investigator of TanSat mission.

- His team compared the TanSat SIF products provided by the new IAPCAS/SIF algorithm and the data-driven (SVD) method. Considering both scale and time, results indicate that the two SIF products agree well on a global extent thought the year. While the team noticed a slight regional bias in the SIF maps, the linear correlations between the two SIF products are strong, higher than 0.73, for all seasons. Their TanSat SIF algorithm comparison is published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences. 17)

- Researchers will analyze and use the new SIF product to better understand the terrestrial ecosystem. This includes assimilating SIF data into GPP modeling and global carbon flux estimations. Optimization of the IAPCAS/SIF algorithm will help to develop SIF products from other satellite missions, and scientists hope that exploring the comprehensive usage of SIF products will promote the quantitive research of the global carbon sink and climate change.

• April 13, 2018: TanSat has produced its first global carbon dioxide maps. TanSat was launched by a collaborative team of researchers in China, and these maps are the first steps for the satellite to provide global carbon dioxide measurements for future climate change research. The researchers published the maps, based on data collected in April and July 2017, in the latest edition of the journal Advances in Atmospheric Sciences, a Springer journal. 18) 19)

After TanSat was launched in December 2016, in-orbit and calibration tests were completed in the summer of 2017, and the performance of the instrument has since been evaluated in test sessions. TanSat XCO2 retrieval algorithm was developed based on IAPCAS (Institute of Atmospheric Physics Carbon dioxide retrieval Algorithm for Satellite) remote sensing. IAPCAS also informed the development of ATANGO (Application of TanSat XCO2 Retrieval Algorithm in GOSAT Observations). Its retrieval accuracy and precision have been validated by Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON) measurements, and the retrieval product has been applied in estimations of carbon flux inversion in China.

The retrieval relies on mathematical and physical models to approach XCO2 from hyperspectral measurements restored in the L1B data. The result is the best estimate after comparison between the simulated satellite-received spectrum and measurements. The first global XCO2 maps based on TanSat measurements show the global distribution over land in April and July 2017 (Figure 8).

Based on the maps, a seasonal decrease in CO2 concentration from spring to summer in the Northern Hemisphere is obvious, and results from a change in the rate of photosynthesis. This effect is also reflected in the XCO2 gradient between the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere shown in Figure 8a. Emission hotspots due to anthropogenic activity, such as industrial activity and fossil fuel combustion, are clearly evident in eastern China, the eastern United States, and Europe, as reflected by the relatively high levels of XCO2.

Figure 8: Global XCO2 maps produced from TanSat in nadir mode in (a) April and (b) July 2017. The colored marks indicate the XCO2 values and the color scale bar is shown at the bottom of each figure (image credit: TanSat Team)
Figure 8: Global XCO2 maps produced from TanSat in nadir mode in (a) April and (b) July 2017. The colored marks indicate the XCO2 values and the color scale bar is shown at the bottom of each figure (image credit: TanSat Team)

Outlook: There are still gaps in the TanSat measurements between the footprints of each orbit, and these missing measurements also continue to impact on the carbon flux inversion estimation.20) The gaps can be filled by using both OCO-2 (Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2) mission of NASA and TanSat XCO2 measurements because the footprint tracks are almost parallel and interlaced, such that OCO-2 provides an additional measurement track between two TanSat tracks. This improves the spatial coverage significantly when compared with the use of a single satellite (i.e., either OCO-2 or TanSat). Accuracy and precision of XCO2 data are essential for the joint application of OCO-2 and TanSat data. Hence, research focusing on the validation of satellite in-orbit calibration and retrieval algorithms is required to evaluate their precision and reduce the bias associated with their use.



 

Sensor Complement

TanSat is equipped with two instruments: Carbon Dioxide Spectrometer and CAPI. To enhance the system efficiency and reliability, the two instruments are integrated into a common structure and electronics device, sharing one common electrical box (Figure 9).

Figure 9: Illustration of the two instruments into a common structure (image credit: CIOMP)
Figure 9: Illustration of the two instruments into a common structure (image credit: CIOMP)

CarbonSpec (Carbon Dioxide Spectrometer)

CarbonSpec, also referred to as CDS (Carbon Dioxide Spectrometer) is a high-resolution grating spectrometer dedicated to CO2 detection by measuring the near-infrared absorption of CO2 at 1.61 µm and at 2.06 µm, and the molecular oxygen (O2) A-band in reflected sunlight at 0.76 µm. The resolving power in the A-band is near 21,000, while that in the CO2 bands is near 12,000. The footprint size is ~2 km x 2 km and the swath is 20 km wide at nadir.

As shown in Figure 9, CarbonSpec is composed of a pointing subsystem, a telescope subsystem, a beam splitter subsystem, a diffraction grating spectrometer subsystem, and an imaging subsystem. Figure 10 and Table3 show the optical schematics and specifications of the Spectrometer, respectively.

Figure 10: Schematic view of CarbonSpec instrument (image credit: CIOMP)
Figure 10: Schematic view of CarbonSpec instrument (image credit: CIOMP)

Parameter

O2-A

CO2 weak

CO2 strong

Spectral range

758-778 nm

1594-1624 nm

2042-2082 nm

Spectral resolution

0.044 nm

0.12 nm

0.16 nm

SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio)

360

250

180

Spatial resolution

1 km x2 km, 2 km x 2 km

Scanning range

-30º ~ 10º cross-track

Swath

20 km

Table 3: Specification of the CarbonSpec observation parameters

The pointing subsystem is a special design of the CarbonSpec. It includes a pointer mirror, one side of which directly reflects the light from the ground to the telescope subsystem, and the other side of the mirror can diffusely reflect the incoming light for radiation calibration of the instrument. The pointer mirror is fixed on a one-dimensional rotation device which can rotate from 0 to 360º. By adjusting the rotation angle, the spectrometer is able to detect the target located from -30º to 10º in cross-track.

Figure 11: Illustration of the pointing subsystem (image credit: CIOMP)
Figure 11: Illustration of the pointing subsystem (image credit: CIOMP)
Figure 12: Schematic of the CDS (Carbon Dioxide Spectrometer) and CAPI assembly (image credit: TanSat collaboration, Ref. 9)
Figure 12: Schematic of the CDS (Carbon Dioxide Spectrometer) and CAPI assembly (image credit: TanSat collaboration, Ref. 9)

 

CAPI (Cloud and Aerosol Polarimetry Imager)

The CAPI instrument is a wide FOV (Field of View) moderate resolution imaging spectrometer with polarization channels, used to compensate errors which are caused by clouds and aerosols based on observation in the following spectral bands:

- Ultraviolet: 0.38 µm

- Visible: 0.67 µm

- Near infrared: 0.87, 1.375 and 1.64 µm

Other than the cloud and aerosol detection in the various wavelength bands, CAPI is designed to obtain polarization observation data at 0.67 µm and 1.64 µm in three angles, so as to enhance the retrieval accuracy of the clouds and of aerosols.

CAPI uses six lenses to realize the cloud and aerosol detection in nine channels at 5 spectrum bands. Lens 1 (0.38 µm), lens 2 (0.87 µm and 0.67 µm @ 0º), and lens 3 (0.67 µm @ 60º&120º) constitute the VNIR (Visible Near Infrared) spectrum. Lens 4 (1.375 µm and 1.64 µm), lens 5 (1.64 µm @ 60º), and lens 6 (1.64 µm @ 120º) constitute the SWIR Short Wave Infrared) spectrum.

Figure 13 shows the structure of the VNIR and SWIR and the lens structure. Table 4 gives the specification of the CAPI instrument.

Figure 13: Illustration of the CAPI structure (image credit: CIOMP)
Figure 13: Illustration of the CAPI structure (image credit: CIOMP)

Band No

Band (nm)

SNR

Polarization angle (º)

FOV

No of pixels

1

365-408

260

 

 

 

400 km x 0.5 km

1600

2

660-685

160

0/60/120

1600

3

862-877

400

 

1600

4

1360-1390

180

 

800

5

1628-1654

110

0/60/120

800

Table 4: Specification of the CAPI spectral parameters

The CAPI instrument will record images in 5 spectral channels (0.38, 0.67, 0.87, 1.375, and 1.64 µm) with a spatial resolution of 0.5 km over a 400 km wide swath. The 0.67 and 1.64 µm channels sample 3 independent polarization angles. Soundings recorded by the spectrometer will be used to retrieve XCO2, while data from CAPI will be used to correct cloud and aerosol interference. The target accuracy of the CO2 measurements is 1 to 4 ppm on regional scales (500 km x 500 km) and monthly time scales. The current plan is to validate these results against a comprehensive, multi-site ground based measurement network in China as well as other internationally-recognized standards.

Cloud detection is an essential preprocessing step for retrieving carbon dioxide from satellite observations of reflected sunlight. During the pre-launch study of TanSat, a cloud-screening scheme was presented for CAPI (Cloud and Aerosol Polarization Imager), which only performs measurements in five channels located in the visible to near-infrared regions of the spectrum. The scheme for CAPI, based on previous cloud-screening algorithms, defines a method to regroup individual threshold tests for each pixel in a scene according to the derived clear confidence level. This scheme is proven to be more effective for sensors with few channels. 21)

The work relies upon the radiance data from the VIRR (Visible and Infrared Radiometer) onboard the Chinese FY-3A (FengYun-3A) polar-orbiting meteorological satellite, which uses four wavebands similar to that of CAPI and can serve as a proxy for its measurements. The scheme has been applied to a number of the VIRR scenes over four target areas (desert, snow, ocean, forest) for all seasons. To assess the screening results, comparisons against the cloud-screening product from MODIS are made. The evaluation suggests that the proposed scheme inherits the advantages of schemes described in previous publications and shows improved cloud-screening results. A seasonal analysis reveals that this scheme provides better performance during warmer seasons, except for observations over oceans, where results are much better in colder seasons.

 

Observation Scenarios

Both instruments collect observation data in pushbroom mode. To meet the mission requirements, the TanSat spacecraft carries out different observation tasks in different scanning configurations. As shown in Figure 14, TanSat is able to perform the following 5 observation modes:

• Nadir mode: observation over land

• Sun-glint mode: observation over the ocean

- Sun glint track

- Principle plane track

• Target mode: observation validation

- Surface target track

- Multi angles for one target.

Figure 14: TanSat nadir observation mode (image credit: TanSat Team)
Figure 14: TanSat nadir observation mode (image credit: TanSat Team)
Figure 15: TanSat sun glint observation mode (image credit: TanSat Team)
Figure 15: TanSat sun glint observation mode (image credit: TanSat Team)
Figure 16: TanSat target observation mode (image credit: TanSat Team)
Figure 16: TanSat target observation mode (image credit: TanSat Team)
Figure 17: Payload reference frame (image credit: SIMIT, Ref. 10)
Figure 17: Payload reference frame (image credit: SIMIT, Ref. 10)

Calibration

• Spectral calibration accuracy: superior to 1/10 FWHM

• Radiometric calibration accuracy: 3%(relative), 5%(absolute) (also for CAPI)

• OBC (OnBoard Calibrator):

- CO2 Spectrometer : LED + solar calibration

- CAPI : LED +lunar + solar calibration.

Nadir observation: In the nadir observation mode, the satellite observes the sub-satellite track by receiving the sunlight reflected of Earth's surface, as shown in Figure 18. In this mode, the satellite can obtain the most of the high-resolution data. It is the nominal mode for CO2 detection of the land surface, since the reflection ratio of land is relatively high compared to the ocean surface.

Figure 18: Schematic view of nadir and sun-glint observations (image credit: CIOMP)
Figure 18: Schematic view of nadir and sun-glint observations (image credit: CIOMP)

For TanSat, there are two kinds of nadir observation:

1) Nominal nadir observation - scanning the ground surface with the normal of instrument CCD lines orienting along the flight direction, forward or backward. Due to the constraint of satellite design, the satellite needs to quickly slew 180º around the yaw axis while flying over the sub-solar point to keep the sunlight on the side of the solar panel. This slew imposes the most strict maneuver requirement for the satellite: 180º in five minutes (around yaw axis).

2) Principle-plane nadir observation - scanning the ground targets with the instrument boresight within 5º of the principal plane, which is a plane defined with respect to the instrument aperture, the surface target, and the sun. While the satellite carries out the principle-plane nadir observation as it flies from the south to the north, it slowly slews for about 160º around the yaw axis.

To achieve a good SNR of the observation data, the surface solar zenith angle in both nadir modes shall be < 80º. Every orbit the satellite observes for ~46 minutes in the sunlit phase. Considering the seasonal changes, TanSat is always able to detect surface targets ranging from latitude -51º to 56º, and from -82º to 79º during summer or winter.

Sun-glint observation: In sun-glint observation mode, the satellite observes the sun glint point of the Earth, with the instrument boresight within 5º of the principal plane. As the satellite observes the sun-glint spot in orbit, the spacecraft attitudes changes due to the relative target move and the principle plane following: changing around -60º~+60º about the pitch axis, changing approximately for 160º about the yaw axis, while the roll angle is kept to about 20°. The maximum slew rate during the observation is about 0.2°/s about the yaw axis, which occurs while the satellite passes the sub-solar point.

As shown in Figure 18, the sun-glint observation mode is generally used to observe over the ocean surface, where the reflection ratio is relatively lower than on land. The surface solar zenith angle of the target glint spot is constrained to smaller than 70° for better SNR. With in sun-glint observation mode, TanSat is always able to detect the surface targets ranging from latitude -43° to 46°, and from -86° to 79° during summer or winter.

Target observation: In target observation mode, the satellite observes a target point or area on Earth's surface from different view angles ranging from -60° to 60°. Targets can be distributed over the area from -30° ~ 10° across the ground track. The observation for a ground target point or area can last for 8-10 minutes while the satellite flies over the target. The maximum slew rate during the observation is around 0.6°/s about the pitch axis.

Target observation is useful for CO2 detection over hot-spots. It can also be used to observe ground CO2 monitoring stations, so that the spaceborne observation data can be compared and validated by the ground-based data.

Sun observation: In sun observation mode, the boresight of the CO2 spectrometer is pointed toward the sun, for instrument spectrometric and radiometric calibration. There are two kinds of sun observation modes:

- Direct sun observation with the reflection side of the pointer mirror of the CO2 spectrometer

- Diffusion sun observation with the diffusive side of the mirror.

In direct sun observation mode, the satellite points its +Xs axis to the sun and maneuvers sinusoidally about 1° so as to acquire a full scan of the whole sun for radiometric calibration.

In the diffusion sun observation mode, the satellite points its +Zs axis toward the sun with 15° bias on the pitch axis so that the sunlight doesn’t enter into the field of view of the CAPI instrument. The satellite carries out the diffusion sun observation while flying from the dark side of the orbit to the sunlit side. The spectrometric calibration of the CarbonSpec instrument is conducted first by observing in the sunlit phase through the atmosphere, this is followed with the radiometric calibration by observing the sun directly.

Moon observation: In moon observation mode, the satellite points the CAPI instrument toward the full moon, with a small sinusoidal periodic maneuver of the pitch axis; this permits spectrometric and radiometric instrument calibration.



 

Ground Segment

The TanSat ground segment consists of three systems (Figure 19):

1) The ground data management system is based on the ground segment of the FY (Feng Yun) satellite series of China, regarding the monitoring and control of the spacecraft, including the science data reception and processing/archiving functions.

2) The CO2 ground monitoring network, for detecting and monitoring CO2 with six ground-based instruments, distributed over the mainland of China. The ground observation data will be compared to the spaceborne data for validation.

3) CO2 retrieval subsystem: for XCO2 retrieval based on the observation data, and for the provision of CO2 data products.

Figure 19: Overview of the TanSat system architecture (image credit: SIMIT, CIOMP, NSMC)
Figure 19: Overview of the TanSat system architecture (image credit: SIMIT, CIOMP, NSMC)
Figure 20: Ground-based monitoring network of TanSat (image credit: TanSat collaboration) 22)
Figure 20: Ground-based monitoring network of TanSat (image credit: TanSat collaboration) 22)
Figure 21: Surface CO2 validation stations (image credit: TanSat collaboration)
Figure 21: Surface CO2 validation stations (image credit: TanSat collaboration)
Figure 22: Ground satellite receiving stations (image credit: TanSat collaboration)
Figure 22: Ground satellite receiving stations (image credit: TanSat collaboration)



References

1) Wen Chen, Yonghe Zhang, Zengshan Yin, Yuquan Zheng, Changxiang Yan, Zhongdong Yang, Yi Liu, “The TanSat Mission: Global CO2 Observation and Monitoring,” Proceedings of the 63rd IAC (International Astronautical Congress), Naples, Italy, Oct. 1-5, 2012, paper: IAC-12-B4.4.12

2) Hartmut Boesch, Yi Liu, Paul Palmer, Zhaonan Cai, “Monitoring Carbon Dioxide from space: retrieval algorithm, Cal/Val and application,” Dragon 2 Final Results and Dragon 3 KO Symposium, Beijing, China, June 25-29, 2012, URL: http://congrexprojects.com/
docs/12a13_docs3/10643-co2space-hb-etal.pdf?sfvrsn=2

3) Yi Liu, Minzheng Duan, Dongxu Yang, Zhaonan Cai, ZengShan Yin, Yuquan Zheng, Changxiang Yan, ZhongDong Yang, “The Status of Chinese Carbon Dioxide Observation Satellite (TanSat) Project,” 8th International Workshop on Greenhouse Gas Measurements from Space (IWGGMS-8), Pasadena, CA, USA, June 18-20, 2012, URL: https://docs.google.com
/file/d/0B-MSdNUpXGayYXM4cW1qOHlJeXc/edit?pli=1

4) Yi Liu, “Recent development in Chinese Carbon Dioxide Satellite (TanSat),” Proceedings of the IWGGMS-10 (10th International Workshop on Greenhouse Gas Measurements from Space) ESA/ESTEC, The Netherlands, May 5-7, 2014, URL: http://www.congrexprojects.com/2014-events/14c02/programme

5) Yi Liu, Zhaonan Cai, Dongxu Yang, Minzheng Duan, ZengShan Yin, Yuquan Zheng, Changxiang Yan, ZhongDong Yang, “The Status of Chinese Carbon Dioxide Observation Satellite (TanSat),” IWGGMS‐9, Yokohama, Japan, May 29-31, 2013, URL: http://iwggms.azurewebsites.net/0529%5Cpm%5C04_YiLiu.pdf

6) Ling Xin, “China Gears up for Carbon Research and Management,” BCAS (Bulletin of the Chinese Academy of Sciences), Vol.27, No.3, 2013, Special Report, URL: http://english.cas.cn/bcas/20133/201311/P020131111506072952639.pdf

7) Chinese Science Bulletin, Vol. 59 ,No 14, May 2014, URL: http://globalecology.unh.edu/papers/2014/Zhang_et_al_CSB_2014.pdf

8) Liu Yi, ”CO2 Monitoring from Space: TanSat mission Status,” The 8th GEOSS-AP (Asia-Pacific) Symposium, Beijing, China, Sept. 9-11, 2015, URL: http://www.sasmac.cn
/AP-GEOSS8/PDFversion/DAY2/WG6/2.1-TanSat-GEOSS.YiLiu1.pdf

9) Liu Yi, Yang Dongxu,Cai Zhaonan, Wang Jing, Chen Xi, Hartmut Boesch,Robert Parker,Feng Liang, Paul Palmer, ”Monitoring Carbon Dioxide from space: retrieval algorithm, Cal/Val and application (ID: 10643),” 2015 Dragon 3 Symposium, Interlaken, Switzerland, June 22-26, 2015, URL: http://earth.esa.int
/dragon-2015-programme/liu-monitoring_carbon_dioxide_from_space-220_ppt_present.pdf

10) Yonghe Zhang, Wen Chen, Yong Lu, Zengshan Yin, Wu Liu, Zhenzhen Zheng, “TanSat Pointing Strategy and Attitude Guidance Law,” Proceedings of the 63rd IAC (International Astronautical Congress), Naples, Italy, Oct. 1-5, 2012, paper: IAC-12- C1. 3.5

11) “Dragon 3 Program,” Brochure 2013, p. 60, URL: http://tinyurl.com/j9prf44

12) ”China launches satellite to monitor global carbon emissions,” CNSA (China Natinal Space Administration), Dec. 22, 2016, URL: http://www.cnsa.gov.cn/n6443408/n6465652/n6465653/c6768423/content.html

13) ”China launches carbon dioxide monitoring satellite,” Space Daily, Dec. 22, 2016, URL: http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/China_launches_carbon_dioxide_monitoring_satellite_999.html

14) Spaceflight News, URL: http://spaceflights.news
/?launch=long-march-2d-%E2%80%A2-tansat-carbonsat

15) Information provided by Prof. Liu Yi of of IAP/CAS, Beijing.

16) ”A New Satellite-measured "Solar-induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence" Product Aims to Improve Carbon Neutrality Research,” IAP (Institute of Atmospheric Physics) CAS, 16 March 2021, URL: http://english.iap.cas.cn/home/lunbo/202103/t20210316_265429.html

17) Lu YAO, Dongxu YANG, Yi LIU, Jing WANG, Liangyun LIU, Shanshan DU, Zhaonan CAI,Naimeng LU, Daren LYU, Maohua WANG, Zengshan YIN, and Yuquan ZHENG, ”A New Global Solar-induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence (SIF) Data Product from TanSat Measurements,” Advances in Atmospheric Sciences, Volume 38, March 2021, pp: 341-345, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-020-0204-6, URL: https://link.springer.com
/content/pdf/10.1007/s00376-020-0204-6.pdf

18) ”First global carbon dioxide maps produced by Chinese observation satellite,” Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Public Release 13 April 2018, URL: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-04/ioap-fgc041318.php

19) Dongxu Yang, Yi Liu, Zhaonan Cai, Xi Chen, Lu Yao, Daren Lu, ”First Global Carbon Dioxide Maps Produced from TanSat Measurements,” Advances in Atmospheric Sciences, Vol. 35(6), 2018, pp: 621–623, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-018-7312-6, URL: https://link.springer.com
/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs00376-018-7312-6.pdf

20) L. Feng, P. I. Palmer, H. Bösch, S. Dance, ”Estimating surface CO2 fluxes from space-borne CO2 dry air mole fraction observations using an ensemble Kalman Filter,” Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, Vol. 9, pp: 2619-2633, 15 April 2009, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-9-2619-2009, URL: https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/9/2619/2009/acp-9-2619-2009.pdf

21) Xi Wang, Zheng Guo, Yipeng Huang, Hongjie Fan, Wanbiao Li, ”A Cloud Detection Scheme for the Chinese Carbon Dioxide Observation Satellite (TANSAT),” Advances in Atmospheric Sciences, Vol. 34, January 2017, pp: 16-25, URL: http://tinyurl.com/gq2ona2

22) Liu Yi and the TanSat Science Team, ”The Pre-launch Status of TanSat Mission,” 12th International Workshop on Greenhouse Gas Measurements from Space (IWGGMS-12),” Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan, June7- 9, 2016, URL: https://www.omc.co.jp/iwggms12/pdf/Session_9/42_Yi_Liu.pdf
 


The information compiled and edited in this article was provided by Herbert J. Kramer from his documentation of: ”Observation of the Earth and Its Environment: Survey of Missions and Sensors” (Springer Verlag) as well as many other sources after the publication of the 4th edition in 2002. - Comments and corrections to this article are always welcome for further updates (eoportal@symbios.space).

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