JOIN US Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman G Madhavan Nair and his predecessor and Planning Commission member K Kasturirangan discussed the possibility of having such a dedicated emission monitoring satellite with Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh here on Monday.
“It may cost around Rs 300 crore. Currently only Japan has such a satellite,” Ramesh informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Japan launched its Ibuki satellite in January.
The Japanese satellite orbits the earth once every three days with two sensors that gauges the density of carbon dioxide and methane based on observed infrared rays. The denser the gases, the more infrared rays of light are absorbed.
The data is collected at 56,000 points on the earth and matched with ground-based observations to have the outcome.
Ibuki has one sensor to determine the presence of clouds because with clouds present, it is difficult to provide an accurate analysis. The satellite takes readings only in clear weather.
NASA ,too, plans for a greenhouse gas monitoring satellite called orbiting carbon observatory. “Having a dedicated satellite is one of the steps to show that India is not on a defensive on climate change,” Ramesh said.