CO monitoring with the IASI remote sensor: global and local variability

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an important trace gas for understanding air quality and atmospheric composition. It is a good tracer of pollution plumes and atmospheric dynamics. In this presentation we use both the IASI and the MOPITT data to study the global and regional CO distributions as seen from space in the thermal infrared spectral range. With two IASI instruments flying on MetOp-A and MetOp-B, any location on Earth is now observed at least four times per day. All cloud free observations are analysed in near real time mode. IASI and MOPITT data are jointly assimilated in the Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service to generate CO pollution forecasts. We will discuss differences at the hemispheric and regional scales, and study trends over the overlapping period. Local pollution events will also be presented, and the sensitivity of the IASI observations at surface level will be discussed. Advices on how to access and how to optimize the use of this huge dataset will be provided.