Post Campaign Overview: NanoCarb Testing Achieved

Published: May 20 / 2026

Post Campaign Overview: NanoCarb Testing Achieved

​The SCARBOn airborne campaign to test and refine the calibration of the NanoCarb prototype under real atmospheric conditions has been successfully completed. It is now time for the next data exploitation challenge.

​The NanoCarb prototype, a lightweight imaging spectrometer developed by UGA and ONERA and improved through joint engineering efforts with Absolut System,  completed its airborne test with excellent operational results: stable instrument performance, high data quality, and strong alignment between airborne and ground-based measurements. With all operational objectives successfully achieved, the consortium is now fully engaged in campaign data processing and exploitation.

​NanoCarb CO2 and CH4 cameras ready on board, Source: SCARBOn consortium​

A Brief Look Back

​Over the past weeks, the SCARBOn consortium (with key contributions from UGA, ONERA, Absolut System, ICGC,  and Airbus) carried out a sequence of preparation, integration and certification steps to make the airborne campaign a reality.

These efforts culminated in the scientific flight in Germany, where UGA-operated NanoCarb prototype collected CO₂ and CH₄ concentration measurements. This was supported by collateral data from the onboard hyperspectral camera (operated by ICGC) and ground-based FTIR measurements (managed by BIRA‑IASB), using an FTIR spectrometer kindly loaned by the Ruisdael Observatory. The science flight coordination was led by ONERA, with DLR providing support for scientific coordination and emission plume forecasting.

In total, the mission produced several hundred GB of atmospheric monitoring data.​

On‑board documentation of measurement conditions, Source: SCARBOn consortium

Next Steps: Data Processing

Raw data (so-called L0 data) from all three instruments have been downlinked and are currently being processed.

NanoCarb emission data will be calibrated and ortho-rectified to generate L1 data, which will then be handed over to the SCARBOn team at CNRS (Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique, CNRS-LMD).

CNRS-LMD has already prepared the L2 processing chain, which converts calibrated radiances into geophysical atmospheric products, primarily greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations. The first NanoCarb L2-type data are expected to be available in summer 2026. At this stage, a comparison with FENIX and FTIR data will be performed to validate and refine the L2 retrievals of atmospheric GHG concentrations.

The L2 NanoCarb campaign data will then continue its processing at DLR’s Institute of Atmospheric Physics. DLR will produce the L4 product, which provides emission estimates using the L2 data. The results will complete the performance assessment of the NanoCarb prototype.

Why This Matters

​GHG are invisible, but their effects are not. To understand how emissions are distributed and evolve, Europe needs measurement technologies that deliver precise, traceable and spatially resolved data. NanoCarb is one of the instruments advancing this capability.

At this stage of NanoCarb development, airborne campaign measurements are essential to:

  • evaluate the NanoCarb concept
  • test end-to-end data‑processing chains
  • assess instrument performance
  • support the design of future satellite missions

This successful campaign was made possible thanks to the dedication and expertise of all SCARBOn partners: UGA, ONERA, ICGC, Absolut System, Airbus, DLR, BIRA‑IASB,  CNRS‑LMD, and Grant Garant.

SCARBOn coordinated efforts ensured a smooth and productive mission!

We also gratefully acknowledge the funding support from HaDEA (Horizon Europe programme), which makes this work possible and contributes to advancing Europe’s next‑generation GHG monitoring technologies.

SCARBOn aircraft on the scientific mission, Source: SCARBOn consortium