Abstract

Atmospheric inversions refer to the process of inferring surface fluxes or emissions of trace gases from atmospheric measurements. They play a crucial role in understanding the sources and sinks of greenhouse gases and air pollutants, aiding in the formulation of effective environmental policies and mitigation strategies. This abstract provides an overview of atmospheric inversions, including their underlying principles, methodologies, and applications. It highlights the challenges associated with inversion modeling, such as the need for accurate atmospheric transport models and observational data, as well as the uncertainties involved in estimating surface fluxes. Furthermore, the abstract discusses emerging technologies and future directions in atmospheric inversions, emphasizing the potential for satellite observations and data assimilation techniques to enhance inversion capabilities. Overall, atmospheric inversions provide a valuable tool for quantifying and monitoring the spatiotemporal distribution of trace gases, facilitating informed decision-making for climate change mitigation and air quality management.

Keywords: Atmospheric inversions; Trace gases; Surface fluxes; Greenhouse gases; Air pollutants; Environmental policies; Mitigation strategies; Atmospheric transport models; Observational data; Uncertainties; Satellite observations; Data assimilation; Climate change; Air quality management