Air Quality from 2023: Hourly Measurements from Space
Air quality is currently monitored worldwide using various methods, one of which is remote sensing. Today, some of the main reasons for not incorporating satellite data into policymaking are its relatively low spatial resolution and the limited number of measurement opportunities provided by TROPOMI.
Pioneering missions
As early as 2002, air quality and climate-related components were already being measured from space by SCIAMACHY, one of the predecessors of today's TROPOMI instrument. The first images of nitrogen dioxide plumes over the Netherlands, Belgium and the Ruhr region became visible.
Following the launch of the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI), air quality could be measured in considerably greater detail. At a resolution of 13 by 24 kilometres, pollution patterns across Europe and the rest of the world were mapped. This instrument was eventually succeeded by the current generation of satellite instruments: TROPOMI. Read our previous blog to learn more about this instrument. Following the success of Sentinel-5P, further technological development has become essential.
A new mission
A groundbreaking new satellite mission that will shape the future of air quality and climate data is currently under construction. While today's capabilities are largely limited to daily measurements at a resolution of 5.5 by 3.5 kilometres, this is set to change significantly in 2023.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has scheduled a new satellite launch as part of its Sentinel-4 mission. The mission is part of the Copernicus programme, led by the European Union and the European Space Agency (ESA). Following the launches of Sentinel-5 and Sentinel-5P, Sentinel-4 is next in line.
Geostationary orbit over Europe
While TROPOMI scans the entire globe over multiple orbits within a single day, Sentinel-4 will remain in a geostationary orbit above Europe. Unlike Sentinel-5P, which provides daily measurements, Sentinel-4 will measure concentrations of various atmospheric gases on an hourly basis.
The advanced instrument is specifically designed to monitor air quality across Europe. As a result, gases such as methane and carbon monoxide will not be included in its measurement portfolio. These parameters can still be retrieved using the well-known TROPOMI instrument.
Sentinel-4 will focus on nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), ozone (O₃), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), formaldehyde (HCHO), glyoxal (CHOCHO) and aerosols.
The future of Caeli
The ESA's new mission will also create opportunities for new technologies and applications in the market. Our infrastructure is fully built around TROPOMI data, with spatial resolution that can now be enhanced to 100 × 100 metres. In addition, NO₂ concentrations can be mapped monthly at the neighbourhood level, all based on daily satellite data.
The availability of hourly data could enable Caeli to achieve even higher spatial resolutions, provide insights at the neighbourhood level on a daily or weekly basis, and, importantly, deliver more comprehensive analyses of the nitrogen crisis to support provincial policymaking.
Curious about the insights we currently offer? Take a look at our Air Quality Monitor.