Online ISSN: 2515-8260

SPATIOTEMPORAL OF CARBON DIOXIDE AND METHANE OBSERVATION OVER SYRIA USING AIRS/AQUA DURING 2003-2016

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Teysir Alzamil1 and Fatema Battour

Abstract

Greenhouse gases (GHG) are those gases that enter into the atmosphere in small proportions and cause global warming. The increase in concentration of greenhouse gases such as methane, carbon dioxide, ozone and nitrogen oxide has led to an increase in the surface earth temperature. Carbon dioxide and methane are among the dominant greenhouse gases and a major cause of climate change around the world. The concentration of carbon dioxide and methane has increased since the advent of the Industrial Revolution, in particular as a result of burning fossil fuels. Observation of carbon dioxide and methane concentrations over Syria, which obtained from Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) during 2003-2016 show a clear annual increase. The time series and time averaged maps were obtained to clarify the spatiotemporal of CO2 and CH4 concentration over Syria during 2003-2016. The results show considerable increase in concentration of carbon dioxide and methane. The concentration of carbon dioxide increased from the value 375.3 (ppm) in 2003 to the value 404.3 (ppm) in 2016, while the concentration of methane gas increased from the value 1827.60 (ppbv) to 1922.26 (ppbv) in the same period. The apparent increase in the concentration of these gases adversely affects human health, as it leads to an increase in the heart rate or sometimes stops it. In addition, the increased concentration of carbon dioxide and methane lead to great damage to agricultural crops.

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