Example Resources

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NASA Resources

US GHG Center datasets: The US GHG Center currently contains 13 datasets provided by several federal agencies. They are listed below.

Global Atmospheric CO2: "OCO-2 GEOS Column CO₂ Concentrations:"

Daily, global 0.5 x 0.625 degree assimilated CO₂ concentrations derived from Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) satellite data, version 10r.
Global measurements of atmospheric CO₂ with the precision, resolution, and coverage needed to characterize sources and sinks (fluxes) on regional scales.
Relevant topic(s): human-caused emissions.

Global Annual CO2 Emissions and Removals: "OCO-2 MIP Top-down CO₂ Budgets:"

Annual carbon dioxide emissions and removals on a 1 degree resolution global grid from 2015-2020, version 1.
This dataset contains annual net fluxes of CO₂ for a six-year period (2015-2020), including: net carbon exchange (NCE), fossil fuel emissions (FF), and lateral fluxes due to crop trade, wood trade, and river export.
Relevant topic(s): human-caused emissions.

Global CO₂ Emissions: "ODIAC Fossil Fuel CO₂ Emissions:"

Global, monthly 1 km resolution dataset of fossil fuel carbon dioxide emissions, version 2022.
Global data modeling fossil fuel CO₂ emissions.
Relevant topic(s): human-caused emissions.

Global Carbon Fluxes: "MiCASA Land Carbon Flux:"

Global, daily and monthly mean 0.1 degree resolution carbon fluxes from Net Primary Production (NPP), heterotrophic respiration (Rh), wildfire emissions (FIRE), and fuel wood burning emissions (FUEL) derived from the CASA-GFED model, version 3.
Presents a variety of carbon flux parameters.
Helps characterize, quantify, understand and predict the evolution of global carbon sources and sinks.
Relevant topic(s): natural sources and sinks.

Global Methane Emissions from Wetlands: "Wetland Methane Emissions, LPJ-EOSIM Model:"

Global, daily and monthly 0.5 degree resolution estimates of wetland methane emissions from the LPJ-EOSIM (Lund-Potsdam-Jena Earth Observation SIMulator) model, version 2.
Global CH₄ emissions from wetlands are estimated.
This dataset shows concentrated methane sources from tropical and high latitude ecosystems.
Relevant topic(s): natural sources and sinks.

Global Ocean Carbon Absorption: "Air-Sea CO₂ Flux, ECCO-Darwin Model v5:"

Global, monthly average air-sea CO₂ flux at ~1/3 degree resolution from 2020 to 2022.
Understand the details of how the ocean takes up carbon.
Data on climate-related ocean carbon cycle and mitigation.
Relevant topic(s): natural sources and sinks.

Global Methane Emissions Estimates: "GOSAT-based Top-down Total and Natural Methane Emissions:"

Uses remote sensing observations from Japan’s Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite (GOSAT) to produce modeled total methane emissions and uncertainties for the year 2019.
Total and natural methane emissions derived using the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS)-Chem global chemistry transport model with inclusion of GOSAT data. Methane emission values for both before and after adding GOSAT to the model are mapped to a 1° resolution grid. Version 1.0 contains data only for 2019.
Includes total methane emission estimates, as well as wetland (the primary natural source of methane), and various human-related sources such as fossil fuel extraction, transport, agriculture, waste, and fires.
Relevant topic(s): natural sources and sinks, large emission events.

Global Methane Emissions: "TM5-4DVar Isotopic CH₄ Inverse Fluxes:"

Global, monthly 1 degree resolution methane emission estimates from microbial, fossil and pyrogenic sources derived using inverse modeling, version 1.
This dataset presents monthly methane emissions from microbial, fossil, and pyrogenic sources, along with a layer of total methane emissions from all three sources combined:
- Microbial emissions: produced by microbial decomposition of present-day organic matter, e.g., in wetlands, agricultural fields, from livestock and landfills.
- Fossil emissions: from the breakdown of ancient carbon-containing matter deep underground, e.g., natural gas, coal bed methane, and small amounts of naturally occurring geologic seeps.
- Pyrogenic emissions: from the burning of present-day organic matter, such as wildfires and biofuels.
Relevant topic(s): natural sources and sinks, large emission events.

Global Arid Regions High Methane Concentrations: "EMIT Methane Point Source Plume Complexes:"

Methane point source plume complexes measured by the EMIT imaging spectrometer on the International Space Station (ISS).
Maps areas of high methane concentration in the atmosphere.
Relevant topic(s): large emission events.

Global CO₂ Concentrations: "Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Concentrations from NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory:"

Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from discrete air samples collected since 1968 at globally distributed surface sites.
Relevant topic(s): human-caused emissions.

Global Methane Concentrations: "Atmospheric Methane Concentrations from the NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory:"

Atmospheric concentrations of methane (CH₄) collected since 1976 at globally distributed surface sites.
Relevant topic(s): human-caused emissions.

U.S. Methane Emissions: "U.S. Gridded Anthropogenic Methane Emissions Inventory:"

Spatially disaggregated 0.1 degree x 0.1 degree maps of annual U.S. anthropogenic methane emissions, consistent with the U.S. Inventory of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks.
Relevant topic(s): human-caused emissions, large emission events.

Global Population Density: "SEDAC Gridded World Population Density:"

Global, 30 arc-seconds (~1km) resolution human population density estimates from the Gridded Population of the World (GPW), version 4, revision 11 dataset based on national censuses and population registers.
Estimates of population density at five-year intervals for the years 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020.

Additional Resources

These resources are particularly relevant to topic 2 (natural sources and sinks):

Vegetation data: NASA’s Applied Remote Sensing Training (ARSET) Program, Creating and Using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) from Satellite Imagery: https://appliedsciences.nasa.gov/get-involved/training/english/arset-creating-and-using-normalized-difference-vegetation-index-ndvi
Biomass estimates from spaceborne lidars: https://ceos.org/gst/biomass.html
Biomass Earthdata Dashboard: interactive data viewers and tools: https://www.earthdata.nasa.gov/maap-biomass/

Space Agency Partner Resources

Brazilian Space Agency (AEB)

Complementary Datasets INPE (National Institute for Space Research): This page provides information and data about INPE (National Institute for Space Research) Burns Program.

European Space Agency (ESA)

Aerosol: Aerosol particles in the atmosphere have an important influence on the Earth's radiative balance by directly reflecting sunlight back into space, as well as absorbing some sunlight and converting it into heat. Aerosols also have an impact on climate by acting as cloud condensation nuclei, which alters cloud properties and their radiative effects. Aerosol particles at surface level impact human health, are associated with disruption to transport (desert dust storms and volcanic eruptions), and can reduce the solar irradiance available for solar power plants.

EarthCARE: The objective of the EarthCARE mission is to make global observations of clouds, aerosols and radiation.

Canadian Space Agency (CSA)

SCISAT Open Data and information Portal: Canada’s SCISAT studies the complex chemical processes that affect the distribution of ozone in the upper atmosphere, especially over the Arctic.

Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere (MOPITT) Open Data and Information Portal: The MOPITT sensor is a Canadian instrument aboard the Terra satellite. As the name suggests, it measures pollution, specifically carbon monoxide, in the troposphere.

Climate Change Services and Information: This is the Government of Canada's hub for climate change information.

Historical Climate Data of Canada: This website allows access to historical weather, climate data, and related information for numerous locations across Canada.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) Open Data Portal: ECCC has various datasets on water quality (including the release of harmful substances in bodies of water), as well as air quality and biodiversity. If you live in Canada, some of these datasets might help you with this challenge.

2024 NASA Space Apps Challenge

Uncover the Role of Greenhouse Gases in Your Neighborhood!