"We cannot manage what we cannot control". That is the theme when it comes to technology and our climate. This is the problem that scientists are trying to combat then they look for ways to monitor carbon fluctuation around the world.
Fluctuation are observed through means of satellite. Images or spectral analysis is done on the atmosphere as a satellite rotates around the earth at about 7 m/s. At this speed it takes a satellite about 8 days to orbit around the earth (from pole to pole) and collect data about CO2 concentrations.
There is a new push to have satellites that are geo-synchronous (stay directly above one part of the earth). This push comes from the fact that if we have satellites at this position, we would be able to in a sense "stare" at a certain sector of the earth and collect data from it continuously.
This new type of geo-synchronous satellite is actually very plausible. We currently have satellites that orbit the earth in this way that provide us with cellular coverage. A new one is launched every few months and half of the vessel is essentially empty. If we could use that space and fill it with the equipment that could monitor CO2 concentrations in our atmosphere we would not only be able to have data to monitor our CO2 contributions but also a way to manage them by holding countries accountable for the amount of CO2 they are putting into the atmosphere.
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