Optimizing the CO2 observing network for constraining sources and sinks

P. J. Rayner; J. G. Enting; C. M. Trudinger

doi:10.3402/tellusb.v48i4.15924

Optimizing the CO2 observing network for constraining sources and sinks

Tellus B: Chemical and Physical Meteorology

Volume 48 (1996): Issue 4

By: P. J. Rayner, J. G. Enting and C. M. Trudinger

Open Access

|Jan 1996

Abstract

This paper presents a combination of synthesis inversion and simulated annealing as a method for suggesting optimal networks for constraining the global carbon budget. Synthesis inversion uses an atmospheric tracer transport model and, in our applications, prior estimates of sources to return estimates of sources' strengths along with their uncertainties. Simulated annealing is a commonly used technique for optimizing multi-variate functionals. By treating the predicted uncertainty for a source as this functional and station locations as parameters, we are able to suggest improved observing networks. The results suggest that considerable improvement is possible with current station densities. Further, they suggest surprising constraints are possible because of the combination of apparently disparate data by the inversion technique. For example, the best improvement available in estimates of total ocean uptake from one extra station is obtained when that station is sited over tropical South America. This follows from the global balances of the CO₂ budget. Finally, considerable specificity is required in defining the objectives for such an optimization, since apparently similar quantities might require very different strategies.

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3402/tellusb.v48i4.15924 | Journal eISSN: 1600-0889

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Language: English

Page range: 433 - 444

Submitted on: Oct 12, 1995

Accepted on: Mar 11, 1996

Published on: Jan 1, 1996

Published by: Stockholm University Press

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

© 1996 P. J. Rayner, J. G. Enting, C. M. Trudinger, published by Stockholm University Press
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Volume 48 (1996): Issue 4