Intercomparison of CH4 Products in China from GOSAT, TROPOMI, IASI, and AIRS Satellites

Abstract

Methane (CH4) is an important greenhouse as well as a chemically active gas. Accurate monitoring and understanding of its spatiotemporal distribution are crucial for effective mitigation strategies. Nowadays, satellite measurements are widely used for CH4 studies. Here, we use the CH4 products from four commonly used satellites (GOSAT, TROPOMI, ARIS, and IASI) during the period from 2018 to 2020 to investigate the spatiotemporal variations of CH4 in China. In spite of the same target (CH4) for the four satellites, differences among them exist in terms of the instrument, spectrum, and retrieval algorithm. The GOSAT and TROPOMI CH4 retrievals use shortwave infrared spectra, with a better sensitivity near the surface, while the IASI and AIRS CH4 retrievals use thermal infrared spectra, showing a good sensitivity in the mid–upper troposphere but a weak sensitivity in the lower troposphere. The GOSAT and TROPOMI observe high CH4 concentrations in the east and south and low concentrations in the west and north, which is highly related to the CH4 emissions. The IASI and AIRS show a more uniform CH4 distribution over China, which reflects the variation of CH4 at a high altitude. However, a large discrepancy is observed between the IASI and AIRS despite using a similar retrieval band, e.g., significant differences in the seasonal variations of CH4 are observed between the IASI and AIRS across several regions in China. This study highlights the CH4 differences observed by the four satellites in China, and caution must be taken when using these satellite products.