Methane is one of the strongest anthropogenic greenhouse gases. It contributes by its radiative forcing significantly to the global warming. For a better understanding of climate changes, it is necessary to apply precise space-based measurement techniques in order to obtain a global view on the complex processes that control the methane concentration in the atmosphere. The MERLIN mission is a joint French-German cooperation, on a micro satellite mission for space-based measurement of spatial and temporal gradients of atmospheric methane columns on a global scale. MERLIN will be the first Integrated Path Differential Absorption LIDAR for greenhouse gas monitoring from space. In contrast to passive methane missions, the LIDAR instrument allows measurements at alllatitudes, all-seasons and during night.
Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas. The radiative forcing caused by methane contributes significantly to the warming
of the atmosphere. To better understand the complex global Methane Cycle, it is necessary to apply space-based
measurements techniques in order to obtain global coverage at high precision
The Methane Remote Sensing Lidar Mission (MERLIN) is a joint French-German cooperation on a micro satellite
mission for space-based measurement of spatial and temporal gradients of atmospheric methane columns on a global
scale. MERLIN will be the first Integrated Path Differential Absorption LIDAR for methane monitoring from space. In
contrast to passive methane missions, the LIDAR instrument allows to retrieve methane fluxes at all-latitudes, allseasons
and during night as it is not relying on sunlight. First scientific studies show a substantial reduction of the prior
methane flux uncertainties in key observational regions when using synthetic MERLIN observations in the flux inversion
experiments. Furthermore, MERLIN observations can help to quantify and verify in scientific credible way national
emission reduction scenarios as formulated in the Kyoto protocol.
This paper reports on the present status of MERLIN and gives an overview on the joint mission concept with the German
LIDAR on the French satellite platform MYRIADE.
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