Ground-based remotely sensed total column measurements of CO2 and other climate relevant trace gases from Porto Velho, Brazil

The Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON) is a network of ground-based Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer that records solar absorption spectra in the near-infrared (NIR) spectral region to retrieve accurate and precise column abundances of CO₂, and CH₄ amongst other gases. The InfraRed Working Group of the Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change (NDACC-IRWG) is another reference network performing solar absorption measurements in the mid-infrared (MIR) spectral region to retrieve the atmospheric partial/total column concentrations of a number of gases including CH₄, and N₂O amongst other gases. Despite the global distribution of stations of both the networks there remains a large gap in terms of the coverage in South America. The Amazon being the largest rainforest is an important ecosystem to the global carbon budget. Recent studies showed that the lung of the planet Earth (Amazon) is no more a carbon sink but turning to a carbon source. Long-term monitoring of the evolution of CO₂ and other climate relevant gases is therefore especially important in this fast-changing critical region on Earth. In February 2023, BIRA-IASB in cooperation with local Brazilian partners from IFRO and INPE installed a new high spectral resolution FTIR spectrometer in Porto Velho covering both the NIR and MIR spectral regions and therefore aim to contribute to both the TCCON and NDACC-IRWG networks. The total and partial column measurements of greenhouse gases from the FTIR will complement the existing aircraft-based vertical profile measurements in the Amazonia. Furthermore, currently being the only reference source for total column measurements in this region, the data will be particularly useful for the validation of currently operational and planned greenhouse gas missions (e.g., OCO-2, GOSAT-series, S-5P, CO2M, …). We will present the site overview, the full suite of measured trace gases and the first results.