GHG-KIT - Prototyping an EO-enabled kit supporting greenhouse gas reporting
One of the goals of GHG-KIT was to develop a prototype system that determines the concentration of greenhouse gases across Austria, using a combination of satellite and ground-based measurements as well as model simulations.
A significant global reduction in greenhouse gases is necessary to limit further climate warming and its associated impacts.
To comply with international frameworks (such as the Paris Climate Agreement, the EU Green Deal, and the Regulation on Land Use, Land-Use Change, and Forestry), all countries report their greenhouse gas emissions data annually.
New technological developments, such as advanced satellite-based measurement instruments, will in the future allow for high-precision, large-scale monitoring of air pollutants and greenhouse gas concentrations.
A key focus of the GHG-KIT project was to determine, as accurately as possible: Where do greenhouse gas emissions originate, and are they caused by human activity or natural processes? What causes the removal of greenhouse gases and to what extent—for example, through carbon dioxide uptake by plants? How accurately do satellite data and model calculations reflect the situation in Austria?
To answer these questions, satellite and ground-based measurements were combined with model simulations in order to analyze both short- and long-term changes across the country. The monitoring system was also prepared for upcoming technological advancements.
The investigations carried out during the project showed that large-scale detection of greenhouse gas concentrations in Austria presents particular challenges. Much like in weather forecasting, the highly complex terrain—characterized by many mountains and valleys—causes significant regional differences and unique features. These must be taken into account when using satellite data and in the calculations of dispersion models.
Essentially, the developed methods already allow for a good qualitative estimation of sources, transport, and sinks of greenhouse gases. However, the project also revealed that, in addition to current and future satellite measurements, more direct ground-based observations will be necessary—particularly near urban areas—in order to pinpoint emission sources as accurately as possible using our methods.
The work carried out in the GHG-KIT project laid important groundwork for the effective use of data from upcoming satellite missions. Once these new satellite data provide more precise values for Austria, the developed methods will be used to determine greenhouse gas fluxes—and especially their sources—even more accurately.