Review of 'A simple and quick sensitivity analysis method for methane isotopologues detection with GOSAT-TANSO-FTS'

Reviewer: bingkun luo

Publication date of review: 2020-11-29

Bookmark

bingkun luo5

A simple and quick sensitivity analysis method for methane isotopologues detection with GOSAT-TANSO-FTSCrossref ScienceOpen

Average rating:	    Rated 4.5 of 5.
Level of importance:	    Rated 4 of 5.
Level of validity:	    Rated 5 of 5.
Level of completeness:	    Rated 5 of 5.
Level of comprehensibility:	    Rated 4 of 5.
Competing interests:	None

Reviewed article

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: found

Is Open Access

A simple and quick sensitivity analysis method for methane isotopologues detection with GOSAT-TANSO-FTS

Edward Malina, Jan-Peter Muller, David Albert Walton (2019)

Measurements of methane isotopologues can differentiate between different source types, be they biogenic (e.g. marsh lands) or abiogenic (e.g. industry). Global measurements of these isotopologues would greatly benefit the current disconnect between top-down (knowledge from Chemistry Transport Models and satellite measurements) and bottom-up (in situ measurement inventories) methane measurements. However, current measurements of these isotopologues are limited to a small number of in situ studies and airborne studies. In this paper we investigate the potential for detecting the second most common isotopologue of methane ( 13 CH 4 ) from space using the Japanese Greenhouse Gases Observation Satellite (GOSAT) applying a quick and simple residual radiance analysis technique. The method allows for a rapid analysis of spectral regions, and can be used to teach University students or advanced school students about radiative transfer analysis. Using this method we find limited sensitivity to 13 CH 4 , with detections limited to total column methane enhancements of >6%, assuming a desert surface albedo of >0.3.

2 comments Cited 0 times – based on 0 reviews

Preprint version 1

     Review now

Bookmark

Review information

DOI:: 10.14293/S2199-1006.1.SOR-EARTH.AAKSMZ.v1.RZNNHZ

License:

This work has been published open access under Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Conditions, terms of use and publishing policy can be found at www.scienceopen.com.

ScienceOpen disciplines: Education,Earth & Environmental sciences,Physics

Keywords: SWIR,Methane,Education,Outreach,Climate,GOSAT,Radiative transfer,Isotopologue

Review text

This paper introduces a quick method to detect the methane isotopologues using Radiative Transfer Models. As described by authors, this is just a first step and the retrieval algorithm needs further development. The authors have also investigated the spectral distribution of the methane, and the potential error sources such as from water vapor and SCIATRAN. Overall, it is a clear and well-organized structure. I would recommend accept after only a few minor corrections listed as follows.

Page 1 Line 40 :
“the feasibility” should be “the feasibility of”
Page 2 Line 18:
“ethane” should be “methane”
Page 3 Line 19-21
The abbreviation “GOSAT21-TANSO-FTS” has been defined at Page 1 Line 43-44. Only define the abbreviation at the first time when it is used in the text.
Page 5 Line 16 :
“has significant pedigree ” should be “has a significant pedigree”
Page 9 Line 14:
Remove the extra Kuze et al
Page 11 Line 41:
“which take three” should be “which takes three”
Page 14 Line 33 :
would to be?

Comments

Edward Malina wrote:

Dear Dr Luo,

Thank you for your review and comments, please find our responses below. We have kept your original comments and responded in line in underlined text.

Thank you for your general positive comments.

Page 1 Line 40 :
“the feasibility” should be “the feasibility of”