Average satellite carbon dioxide concentrations over Europe

To determine the strength of the European carbon sink, scientists analysed eight years of data on carbon dioxide concentration from the Sciamachy instrument on ESA’s Envisat mission, and one year of data from Japan’s Greenhouse gases Observing Satellite, GOSAT. These measurements are depicted in colours showing multiyear (2003–10) seasonal averages for June to August of column carbon dioxide mixing ratios.