164 Quantifying Methane Fluxes in Africa Through Satellite Data Assimilation

Job title:

164 Quantifying Methane Fluxes in Africa Through Satellite Data Assimilation

Company:

Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales

Job description

25-164 Quantifying Methane Fluxes in Africa Through Satellite Data AssimilationPostuler25-164 Quantifying Methane Fluxes in Africa Through Satellite Data Assimilation

• Doctorat, 36 mois
• Temps plein
• Indifférent
• Maitrise, IEP, IUP, Bac+4
• Atmospheric Composition & Climate

PostulerMissionAfrica, with its vast size and diverse landscapes, plays a significant role in the global methane budget. However, uncertainties in regional methane fluxes remain substantial due to a complex interplay of natural and anthropogenic factors. Wetlands, wildfires, poorly documented anthropogenic emissions from the fossil fuel sector, as well as emissions from landfills wastewater and agriculture, all contribute to the overall methane emissions from the continent. Sparse ground-based observations and limited satellite coverage, particularly in cloud-prone regions, hinder accurate quantification of these emissions.New satellite data, such as TROPOMI, IASI-NG, and GOSAT-GW, offer enhanced capabilities for monitoring methane emissions. These satellites will provide improved spatial and temporal resolution, as well as greater sensitivity to methane concentrations compared to historical satellite missions such as GOSAT and surface measurements extremely sparse in African. By leveraging these new observing systems, it is possible to obtain a more comprehensive and accurate understanding of methane fluxes in Africa.To address the challenges of quantifying African methane fluxes, we propose to establish an inversion system based on the Community Inversion Framework (CIF) coupled to the regional chemistry-transport model CIF-CHIMERE. This system has demonstrated its effectiveness in assimilating satellite data and producing reliable estimates of greenhouse gas emissions. By applying CIF-CHIMERE to methane emissions in the African continent, we can generate multi-year time series of fluxes that capture the spatial and temporal variability of sources and sinks. Depending on the availability of data from the new satellite missions IASI-NG and GOSAT-GW, the PhD condidate will select a reference year as a testbed for multi-satellite studies.Several scientific and technical challenges must be addressed to effectively utilize satellite data for quantifying African methane fluxes. Specific to Africa is the limited availability of data, especially in the Tropical band, due to cloud coverage. To tackle this specific challenge, it will be necessary to merge data from multiple satellites, and thoroughly propagate information and errors in the system. Other challenges common to any satellite-based study include distinguishing between different sources of methane, extracting information from satellite images, validating fluxes with independent data, and investigating relationships with environmental factors.Merging data from multiple satellites requires careful consideration of instrument characteristics, calibration, and data quality. Distinguishing between different sources of methane, such as wetlands, agriculture, and fossil fuels, is crucial for accurate quantification, and requires a proper extrapolation of the satellite-based information to areas that are not directly covered by satellite data. In complement, the use of isotopic tracers or machine learning techniques to classify pixels prior or posterior to the inversion can support the attribution of inversion results to specific sectors. Extracting information from satellite images, such as identifying potential methane hotspots or quantifying land-use changes, can provide valuable insights for driving the inversion system. Validating estimated fluxes with independent datasets, such as ground-based measurements or atmospheric observations, is essential for assessing the accuracy and reliability of the results ; the Horizon Europe project IM4CA plans to deploy new surface measurements that could be used during the present doctoral project. Finally, investigating the relationship between methane fluxes and environmental factors, such as drought, precipitation, and temperature, can help identify key drivers of emissions and improve our understanding of the carbon cycle.By addressing these challenges and leveraging the capabilities of new satellite data and the CIF-CHIMERE inversion system, this PhD research aims to provide valuable insights into African methane fluxes. The results of this study will contribute to a better understanding of the global methane budget and inform climate mitigation strategies.For more Information about the topics and the co-financial partner (found by the lab !);contact Directeur de thèse –Then, prepare a resume, a recent transcript and a reference letter from your M2 supervisor/ engineering school director and you will be ready to apply online before March 14th, 2025 Midnight Paris time !

Expected salary

Location

Gif-sur-Yvette, Essonne

Job date

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 08:50:34 GMT

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