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Monday, June 30, 2014

Chlorophyll Fluorescence Detected from Space

By Charlotte Smith

Dr. Frankenberg, a member of NASA, has been researching the remote sensing of atmospheric gases, biogeochemical cycles, and more to develop a way to detect chlorophyll fluorescence from space. During photosynthesis, part of the solar radiation absorbed by chlorophyll is emitted at a different wavelength, called fluorescence. Using spectrometers, scientists can measure this fluorescence from space. According to Dr. Frankenberg, “With the solar induced fluorescence, we get a little insight into how this process [the carbon cycle] actually works from the vantage point of space.”
Dr. Frankenberg, along with other NASA scientists have worked to develop a sort of satellite – the OCO-2 (Orbiting Carbon Observatory) – set to launch July 1. This will measure chlorophyll fluorescence from space, which is very important because it can inform scientists extensively about the photosynthetic rate occurring worldwide. Dr. Frankenberg says, “Photosynthetic activity is the biggest carbon uptake on the globe; it is the input of energy to the natural carbon cycle. Without this, there would be no trees, no life, no oxygen. Photosynthesis is the main reason why there is oxygen. Photosynthesis is the reason we live as humans.” With this new way to inform scientists about photosynthetic rate, they will be able to measure the amount of photosynthesis occurring and thus carbon uptake and oxygen output.

This mission is so important, because a main benefit of the OCO-2 is that it can detect where this photosynthesis is occurring in great amounts, which will lead scientists to determine if said location will continue to aid humans in consuming a large amount of the CO2 that we produce. “The main focus of the OCO-2 mission is to look at where the sink [carbon uptake] in the terrestrial biosphere is located. Nature is doing us a favor now of taking up almost half of the CO2 we emit. But, the real question is if this will continue in the future. Because of global warming, we don’t know if this will be continued or reversed in the future,” says Dr. Frankenberg. Because global warming is unpredictable, Dr. Frankenberg and his colleagues are looking for a way to predict what will happen to the carbon cycle in the future.

The OCO-2 is predicted to have a number of positive effects. Dr. Frankenberg hopes it will transform the carbon cycle science to fill the missing gaps of the natural carbon cycle and how it reacts to global warming, droughts, and other natural occurrences. He says fluorescence and the OCO-2 are complimentary, because they can show a net CO2 flux and the raw uptake of CO2. Dr. Frankenberg says, “What we find out will possibly help guide future policies. Our data will be the basis for how we as a society should react.” We’ve never had such a device before, and with these new discoveries, many policies can be implemented to lower CO2 emissions. We would even be able to physically see the changes we as a society could make. Dr. Frankenberg believes this work will be the basis of that change.

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