At a Glance

Researchers have used satellite technology to more accurately determine the source of atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions.The data pulled in by the satellite reflects greenhouse gas that was emitted years ago.The satellite technology is the first to be able to allow scientists to create maps of human emissions from satellite data.

For the last century, scientists have worked tirelessly to use technology to better understand humankind’s impact on the planet’s atmosphere.

Just this month, a team of government scientists claims says it used state-of-the-art satellite technology to discover a human link to upticks in the presence of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

NASA’s , a satellite that uses data to help identify a human signal amid seasonal changes involving greenhouses, found that the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide now has a year-round average of more than 400 parts per million, according to a release from NASA’s Earth Observatory.

This total is more than one-third higher than CO2 levels before modern industrialization and fossil fuel use began.

A NASA satellite image showing localized CO2 emissions across the U.S. (Credit: NASA)

For researchers, though, the satellite’s capabilities are , giving them analytical abilities that allow them to create maps of human emissions from satellite data.

However, one roadblock encountered by researchers in processing the data is finding a way to isolate the emission signatures from the total amount.

Research scientist Janne Hakkarainen led the study and said the satellite has the ability to detect smaller, isolated areas with high CO2 emissions, such as individual cities.

“One of the most interesting findings was to see a strong signal over Middle East that is not present in emission inventories—suggesting that the inventories might be incomplete over that area,” Hakkarainen said.

To contrast the potential human impact, NASA said volcanoes of carbon dioxide per year, while humans emit approximately 30 billion tons per year through the use of fossil fuels.

The study also pointed out that CO2 molecules can linger in the atmosphere for a century or more, meaning that much of what the satellite observes is greenhouse gas that was emitted years ago

Hakkarainen then said human emissions within the past year may add only about three parts per million to that total, but the new technology will undoubtedly widen researcher’s understanding of the human impact on CO2 emissions.

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