Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net 1680-7367 1680-7375 3 2 2003 10.5194/acpd-3-2027-2003 http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/3/2027/2003/ http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/3/2027/2003/acpd-3-2027-2003.html http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/3/2027/2003/acpd-3-2027-2003.pdf 2027 2058 2003-04-15 Trace gas measurements from infrared satellite for chemistry and climate applications C. Clerbaux J. Hadji-Lazaro S. Turquety G. Mégie P.-F. Coheur Service d’Aéronomie, Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace, Paris, France Laboratoire de Chimie Physique Moléculaire, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium Space-borne thermal infrared instruments working in the nadir geometry are providing spectroscopic measurements of species that impact on the chemical composition of the atmosphere and on the climate forcing: H₂O, CO₂, N₂O, CH₂, CFCs, O₃, and CO. The atmospheric abundances obtained from the analysis of IMG/ADEOS measurements are discussed in order to demonstrate the potential scientific return to be expected from future missions using advanced infrared nadir sounders. Some strengths and limitations of passive infrared remote sensing from space are illustrated.