OCO-2: Satellite-Based Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Measurements

Version 11.2 is the current and sole available version of this dataset, superseding all older releases. The Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) is NASA's first mission designed to collect space-based measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide with the precision, resolution, and coverage needed to characterize the processes controlling its buildup. The instrument uses three high-resolution spectrometers to make coincident measurements of reflected sunlight in specific near-infrared and oxygen A-Band wavelengths.

Use Cases

• Characterizing global carbon dioxide sources and sinks based on space-based atmospheric measurements.
• Validating and improving terrestrial biosphere and carbon cycle models using precise, global CO2 concentration data.
• Assimilating prior CO2 estimates into atmospheric transport models, leveraging the monthly flask record and meteorology inputs.
• Monitoring regional and seasonal variations in atmospheric CO2 concentrations from satellite observations.

Strengths

• Represents a definitive, version-controlled dataset, as Version 11.2 is stated to be the current and sole supported version.
• Provides data from a dedicated NASA satellite mission (OCO-2) designed specifically for high-precision atmospheric CO2 measurement.
• Incorporates multiple data sources, including a prior based on a monthly flask record, global meteorology, and age of air.

Limitations

• Critical metadata is missing or inconsistent across platforms, including column names, row counts, and specific license details.
• The dataset's temporal and spatial coverage is not explicitly stated in the provided descriptions.
• Data format details are limited to a union list (BIN, PDF, etc.), suggesting potential complexity in direct analysis.

Provenance

Source

NASA Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) mission, processed and hosted by GES DISC.

Collection Method

Collected via the LEOStar-2 spacecraft carrying a single instrument with three high-resolution spectrometers measuring reflected sunlight.

Time Range

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Freshness

2026-04-09 23:33:59.652676

Geography

Global