Europe’s first step towards monitoring human-caused emissions

MicroCarb is a polar-orbiting satellite developed by CNES that will fly at around 650 km above Earth. Equipped with an infrared spectrometer, MicroCarb will analyse sunlight reflected from the Earth to measure oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations at four specific wavelengths, allowing measurements with a precision of up to one part per million. © CNES/ill./SATTLER Oliver, 2021