Conference Proceedings
The Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) mission
D Crisp, RM Atlas, FM Breon, LR Brown, JP Burrows, P Ciais, BJ Connor, SC Doney, IY Fung, DJ Jacob, CE Miller, D O'Brien, S Pawson, JT Randerson, P Rayner, RJ Salawitch, SP Sander, B Sen, GL Stephens, PP Tans Show all
Advances in Space Research | Published : 2004
Abstract
The Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) mission will make the first global, space-based measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) with the precision, resolution, and coverage needed to characterize CO2 sources and sinks on regional scales. The measurement approach and instrument specifications were determined through an analysis of existing carbon cycle data and a series of observing system simulation experiments. During its 2-year mission, OCO will fly in a 1:15 PM sun-synchronous orbit with a 16-day ground-track repeat time, just ahead of the EOS Aqua platform. It will carry a single instrument that incorporates three bore-sighted high-resolution spectrometers designed to measure refl..
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