Sentinel-5P satellite—a pioneer in global air pollution monitoring

Sentinel-5P satellite

The Sentinel-5P satellite, part of the Copernicus program, aims to provide space-based observational data to support air quality monitoring. It will provide measurements of air pollutants such as ozone, nitrogen dioxide, methane, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and sulfur dioxide. Carrying the state-of-the-art Troposphere Instrument (Tropospheric Instrument), the satellite combines the advantages of SCIAMACHY, OMI, and other cutting-edge technologies, enabling it to image pollutants more accurately than ever before.

The Sentinel-5P satellite, carrying the TROPOMI instrument, weighs 820 kg, orbits at an altitude of 824 km, and flies in a polar-orbiting sun-synchronous ascending orbit (from south to north). Its nadir crosses the equator around 13:30 local time. The flight trajectory was designed to be in the same orbit as the US National Polar-Orbiting Environment Satellite System Preparatory Program (NPP) satellites, with a 5-minute delay, to assist in utilizing cloud product information from the NPP Visible-Infrared Imaging Radiometer (VIIRS) and to conduct inter-satellite cross-correction. For various locations in my country, depending on the local latitude and whether the location is west or east of the nadir trajectory, the actual imaging time is approximately sometime between 12:00 and 14:00 local time.

What sets the Tropomi sensor apart is its ability to perform measurements in the ultraviolet and visible light (270–500 nm), near-infrared (675–775 nm), and short-wave infrared (2305–2385 nm) spectral bands. This means that a wide range of pollutants, such as nitrogen dioxide, ozone, formaldehyde, sulfur dioxide, methane, and carbon monoxide, can be imaged more precisely than ever before. With a resolution of up to 7 km × 3.5 km, it has the potential to detect air pollution in individual cities.

Image parameters:

The Troposphere Monitoring Instrument (Tropomi) has a band width of 2600 km, covering the ultraviolet and visible light (270-495 mm), near-infrared (675-775 mm), and short-wave infrared (2305-2385 mm) bands, with a spatial resolution of up to 7 km x 3.5 km.

Sentinel 5P's main mission:

Atmospheric monitoring: Data on a variety of trace gases that affect our health, such as nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, formaldehyde, and ozone. Mapping the atmosphere around the world daily at a resolution of up to 7 km x 3.5 km will provide policymakers with the information they need to implement appropriate strategies to reduce air pollution, ultimately helping to save lives.

Climate monitoring: The Tropomi multispectral imaging spectrometer can indeed measure other greenhouse gases, such as methane. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, capturing about 30 times more heat per unit mass than carbon dioxide. Due to permafrost thawing, methane can enter the air from the fossil fuel industry, landfills, livestock farming, and rice cultivation. Aerosols and clouds can also be monitored.

Sentinel 5P methane column concentration data example: