CO2 Validation
CO2 Validation
The OCO validation effort assures that the OCO observations are placed on the same scale as the WMO in situ standard.
Approach
OCO measurements of total column dry-air mole fractions of CO₂ (XCO₂) are compared and adjusted to assure agreement with XCO₂ measurements from the ground-based Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON). The TCCON data are directly tied to the WMO standard using independent observations made by aircraft and balloon-borne instruments during various campaigns.
To Learn More:
Read the manuscript describing the TCCON measurements and how they are tied to the WMO in situ scale.
Targeted Observations
Targeted observations are a key component of the OCO validation plan. Many of the target locations are TCCON sites.
Data Quality of V11.2
Accuracy and precision of XCO₂ < 0.85 ppm
- This exceeds the 1 ppm mission requirements and is unmatched by any other global spaceborne measurement.
The instrument is stable over more than 10-year of record, no obvious trend comparing to TCCON observations.
To Learn More:
Read the publication by the OCO team comparing the most recent observations with independent ground-based XCO2 from the Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON).
