Articles | Volume 19, issue 12
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-4013-2026
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-4013-2026
Research article
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19 Jun 2026
Research article | Highlight paper |  | 19 Jun 2026

Global and diurnal variations in tropospheric ammonia observed from a constellation of hyperspectral infrared sounders in three different LEO orbits

Jiancong Hua, Runyi Zhou, Mengya Sheng, and Zhao-Cheng Zeng

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Geostationary observations of atmospheric ammonia over East Asia: spatio-temporal variations revealed by three years of FY-4B/GIIRS measurements
Mengya Sheng, Runyi Zhou, Jiancong Hua, Shan Han, Shangyi Liu, Lin Zhang, Wei Wang, Ruijun Dang, Hansen Cao, Zichong Chen, Yixuan Gu, Mingxu Liu, Lu Lee, Chengli Qi, Feng Lu, Changpei Han, Mark W. Shephard, Nadir Guendouz, Camille Viatte, Lieven Clarisse, Martin Van Damme, Cathy Clerbaux, and Zhao-Cheng Zeng
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 26, 7803–7826, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-7803-2026,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-7803-2026, 2026
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Cited articles

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Editorial statement
This study establishes a novel integrated satellite constellation that delivers quasi-geostationary–like global coverage, enabling six daily observations of atmospheric NH₃ and substantially improving constraints on its diurnal variability. The framework provides a critical observational basis for more accurate emission quantification and for advancing climate and air quality model parameterizations.
Short summary
The diurnal cycle of NH3 remains under-constrained at a global scale. To address this gap, we construct an integrated constellation with hyperspectral infrared sounders in three different Low-Earth-Orbits to achieve quasi-geostationary-like global monitoring coverage of NH3 and provide six maps of global NH3 for every 4-hour in each day. This constellation has the potential to enhance the global climate-monitoring capacity of polar-orbiting meteorological satellites.
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