Environmental Chemistry takes a Hit

Environmental chemistry took a big hit this week as a satellite designed for the monitoring of global CO2 levels crashed in Antarctica after its casing failed to separate from the rest of the rocket. The satellite was designed specifically to monitor CO2 levels, and no other gasses, across the globe, at multiple altitudes, with much higher precision than was previously possible. It is a remarkable statement to launch a satellite aimed at monitoring a single molecule and is telling of the degree to which this single molecule can affect our lives. The satellite would have allowed monitoring of CO2 emissions on a global scale using multiple frequency monitoring of CO2 lines to gain high spatial resolution of CO2 concentrations around the world to better understand the effects of greenhouse gas emission and how to deal with them. Fortunately there is another japanese satellite that can asses CO2 levels, but it is designed to be a broad spectrum greenhouse gas monitor, and cannot provide the necessary spatial sensitivity that may become necessary as CO2 greenhouse gas effects grow.

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v457/n7233/