碳衛星(tàn wèixīng): Carbon dioxide monitoring satellite

According to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, China's first carbon dioxide monitoring satellite successfully recorded its first observation data on Monday.

The observation satellite was launched on Dec 22 via a Long March-2D rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China's Gobi Desert. It was the 243rd mission using Long March series rockets.

The observation satellite aims to monitor carbon dioxide levels in the Earth's atmosphere, and China is the third country after Japan and the United States to monitor greenhouse gases using its own satellite.

The new satellite will enable China to obtain first-hand carbon emissions data, which will also be shared with researchers worldwide. All year round carbon data from all over the world will help increase our understanding of the carbon cycle and climate change, and provide more accurate and reliable data on greenhouse gas emissions for China's policymakers' decision-making on coping with climate change.

The satellite will examine global carbon dioxide levels every 16 days. The satellite and its ground application system are said to be working well.

"Preliminary results show that the key technologies of this carbon dioxide monitoring satellite have passed the validation test," said Yin Zengshan, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the satellite's chief designer.