LAUSR

ABSTRACT This study explores the detectability of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) absorption at the short wave infrared bands of Hyperion EO-1 hyperspectral images. Two CO2 absorption bands at around 2.002–2.012 and 2.052 µm, respectively, were identified on the reflectance spectra derived from the images. Considering the principle of differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) and assuming the O2-A band around 0.762 µm as reference, the spatial variation of the column density was estimated for Kolkata, a region around 22° 31′ N 88° 21′ E. The ratio of the individual absorption depth of CO2 to that of O2, instead of the ratio of their column density, was found to be more suitable to express the spatial distribution of CO2 concentration over short distance, of the order of metres. The methodology was validated with Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) data. The work suggests the inclusion of 2–3 narrowband channels corresponding to O2-A and CO2 absorptions in future moderate resolution multispectral sensors in order to facilitate the monitoring of atmospheric CO2.