New directions: GEIA’s 2020 vision for better air emissions information

Atmospheric Environment (2013)

Frost G J, Middleton P, Tarrasón L, Granier C, Guenther A, Cardenas B, van der Denier Gon H, Janssens-Maenhout G, Kaiser J W, Keating T, Klimont Z, Lamarque J-F, Liousse C, Nickovic S, Ohara T, Schultz M G, Skiba U, van Aardenne J and Wang Y

DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2013.08.063

Vol 81, pp 710–712

Abstract

We are witnessing a crucial change in how we quantify and understand emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants, with an increasing demand for science-based transparent emissions information produced by robust community efforts. Today's scientific capabilities, with near-real-time in-situ and remote sensing observations combined with forward and inverse models and a better understanding of the controlling processes, are contributing to this transformation and providing new approaches to derive, verify, and forecast emissions and to quantify their impacts on the environment. At the same time, the needs for emissions information and the demands for their accuracy and consistency have grown. Changing economies, demographics, agricultural practices, and energy sources, along with mandates to evaluate emissions mitigation efforts, demonstrate compliance with legislation, and verify treaties, are leading to new challenges in emissions understanding. To quote NOAA Senior Technical Scientist David Fahey, "We are in the Century of Accountability. Emissions information is critical not only for environmental science and decision-making, but also as an instrument of foreign policy and international diplomacy."