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NASA NTRS · 20070011736

The Orbiting Carbon Observatory: Mission Overview

Abstract

OCO will acquire the space-based data needed to identify CO2 sources and sinks and quantify their variability over the seasonal cycle. Approach: a) Collect spatially resolved, high resolution spectroscopic observations of CO2 and O2 absorption in reflected sunlight; b) Use these data to resolve spatial and temporal variations in the column averaged CO2 dry air mole fraction, X cub CO2) over the sunlit hemisphere; and c) Employ independent calibration and validation approaches to produce X(sub CO2) estimates with random errors and biases no larger than 1-2 ppm (0.3-0.5%) on regional scales at monthly intervals.

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Crisp, David. 2006-05-30. The Orbiting Carbon Observatory: Mission Overview. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20070011736

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