Climate Measurement and Monitoring

Working with federal partners, NIST provides the public and private sectors with the measurements they need for climate-related monitoring, forecasting, and decision making.

Traceability of GHG Measurements

Rigorous traceability of measurements to the International System of Units (SI) and other international standards is essential for detecting and quantifying small changes in Earth’s climate over long time scales.

To chart increases in atmospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations, NIST works with other national metrology institutes, NOAA, and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to provide the high-accuracy standards and measurements, such as primary gas concentration standards needed for accurate and reliable atmospheric monitoring. 

NIST also develops and demonstrates remote sensing methods to determine GHG sources and sinks, and calibrates satellite sensors and in situ measurements to validate climate data records.

GHG Measurement Technology

Accurate and standardized ground- and satellite-based GHG monitoring technologies are needed to support effective decision-making. NIST works on a variety of GHG measurement approaches and techniques, such as frequency-comb spectroscopy and differential absorption lidar. 

The Greenhouse Gas Measurements Program is developing technologies to measure atmospheric emissions directly based on satellite, aircraft and surface observations. The program also operates three Urban Test Beds in collaboration with NOAA and NASA to develop measurement tools for cities and metropolitan areas.

Ensuring Climate Data Quality and Standardization 

NIST maintains a Greenhouse Gas Resource Registry that allows for the sharing of greenhouse gas data, bridging the gap between available data and end users. Additionally, NIST's unique carbon nanotube detectors in NASA’s satellite sensors improve the accuracy of measurements of outgoing radiation from Earth, providing insight into how the Earth’s atmosphere responds to changes in solar output. 

NIST also develops calibration standards for satellites that monitor the land, oceans and atmosphere and the Sun’s radiation. 

Finally, NIST’s research, reference materials and in situ ocean color metrology provide the foundation for understanding the ocean's carbon cycle, tracking ocean acidification and enabling quantification of ocean carbon dioxide removal.