Canada contributed the instrument while the U.S. members of the team are responsible for processing the data. It derives this information from measurements of infrared radiation emitted and reflected by the Earth's surface and atmosphere in eight spectral channels. Because carbon monoxide is present in only about 1 part in 10 million, we are working with subtle effects and careful treatment is needed. In this plot, showing data collected during 2.5 days in March, red indicates high carbon monoxide values and blue shows low values.
Clouds create additional gaps.
Natural sources of carbon monoxide are emissions associated with vegetation and fires started by lightning. Human sources include industrial activity and burning of tropical forests. These are illustrated in this plot, where there is more carbon monoxide in the Northern Hemisphere, associated with more industrial activity, than in the Southern Hemisphere. I would particularly like to draw your attention to high values over West Africa. These are associated with fires that typically occur in that region at this time of year.