ANALYSIS OF TROPOSPHERIC $NO_2$ BASED ON SATELLITE MEASUREMENTS

The distribution and changes of tropospheric nitrogen dioxide ($NO_2$) are analyzed using the satellite measurements data from GOME (Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment) and SCIMACHY (SCanning Imaging Absorption spectroMeter for Atmospheric CHartographY). We produced global maps of tropospheric $NO_2$ for 4 seasons using GOME measurements from January 1997 to June 2003. The global distribution shows high values in regions with dense population and high industrialization. Tropospheric $NO_2$ shows obvious seasonal changes depending on its emission and lifetime. Based on the good agreement between two instruments in the time period of overlapping measurements (January 2003-June2003), we linked SClAMACHY data to the GOME time series. The combined time series over the past decade indicate that $NO_2$ 1evels over China are rapidly increasing while those over Europe are decreasing. We also discussed potential application of spaceborne instruments in detecting and characterizing long-distance transport of $NO_2$.