HCHO
Description
The main product of GEMS HCHO is HCHO vertical column density (VCD). The HCHO VCD represents the total HCHO concentration from surface to top of atmosphere above the unit area. HCHO is mainly formed by oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOC) which is compounded by anthropogenic factors such as fossil combustion and biogenic factors such as vegetation activity.
Applications
Through GEMS HCHO observation, it is possible to understand and calculate the emission of VOC that generate fine dust and ozone, and improve the accuracy of atmospheric modeling for air quality forecasting and climate change research. In addition, it is possible to contribute to the improvement of public health by evaluating the effect that outdoor formaldehyde concentrations can have on the human body using satellite data.
If clouds exist, the observation accuracy is degraded, so it is recommended to exclude pixels with thick clouds (minimum observable area).