Spatiotemporal observations of CH4 and CO2 over Iraq using Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) data

Abstract

Methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) are the most important greenhouse gases and most important climate forcing agents due to their significant impact on climate, and their concentrations have been increased since the pre-industrial time by 150 and 40 % respectively, basically from fossil fuel combustion and land-use change emissions. In this research, the atmospheric concentration of CH₄ and CO₂ over Iraq is measured by the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS). Time series and time-averaged maps were generated to study and analyse the distribution of CH₄ and CO₂ concentrations. The results show a significant increase of these two gases with an average increase (3.5 and 5.11 ppbv/ year ) in a rate of (2.69 % and 4 %) for CH₄ at  SPL 925 hPa and 400 hPa, respectively ; the average increase of CO₂ is (1.85 ppm/ year) represent (3.31%) for the whole period. The considerable increase of CH₄ and CO₂ concentration can affect human healthiness and earth radiative balance. Also, the Satellite observation of AIRS can efficiently show the spatiotemporal variations of CH₄ and CO₂ for the study area.