A two-step scheme for high-resolution regional atmospheric trace gas inversions based on independent models

• Main Authors: M. Heimann, C. Gerbig, K. Trusilova, C. Rödenbeck
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Copernicus Publications 2009-07-01
• Series: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
• Online Access: http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/9/5331/2009/acp-9-5331-2009.pdf

Mixing ratio measurements of atmospheric tracers like CO<sub>2</sub> can be used to estimate regional surface-air tracer fluxes using inverse methods, involving a numerical transport model. Currently available transport models are either global but rather coarse, or more accurate but only over a limited spatial and temporal domain. To obtain higher-resolution flux estimates within a region of interest, existing studies use zoomed or coupled models. The two-step scheme developed here uses global and regional models sequentially in separate inversion steps, coupled only via the data vector. This provides a nested atmospheric inversion scheme without the necessity of a direct coupled model implementation. For example, the scheme allows an easy nesting of Lagrangian models with their potential of very high resolution into global inversions based on Eulerian models.