Abstract
We investigated the validity of column-averaged dry air mole fractions of methane (XCH4: V02.21) retrieved from shortwave infrared (SWIR) spectra obtained by Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite (GOSAT) over Siberia, which is known as a major source area of methane (CH4). We compared the GOSAT XCH4 dataset with aircraft measurements of XCH4 that have been collected in Novosibirsk and Surgut, West Siberia since the 1990s. The average difference between the GOSAT XCH4 and aircraft-based XCH4 was −1.0 ± 22.0 ppb in Novosibirsk and −0.4 ± 14.8 ppb in Surgut when we selected appropriate data pairs. These results indicate that GOSAT XCH4 data obtained over West Siberia is consistent with aircraft measurements and assure the reliability of the GOSAT XCH4 product for scientific analysis.