Interactive comment on “Satellite observation of atmospheric methane: intercomparison between AIRS and GOSAT TANSO-FTS retrievals” by M. Zou et al

Overview of review : This paper described the intercomparison results of methane profiles and its total column density between AIRS and GOSAT TANSO-FTS, the methane profiles were retrieved by thermal infrared spectral range of both instruments. The results showed the influence of Averaging Kernel through the comparison, it was found that the AK reduces the difference. The results also showed that the methane mixing ratio at 300-600hPa from AIRS and GOSAT TANSO-FTS was good correlation. The methane total column amounts at the tropics and the southern hemisphere was good agreement within 1%, however, at the midand highlatitudes in the northern hemisphere, the methane total column from GOSAT TANSO-FTS is 1-2% lower than that from AIRS due to mainly small degree of freedoms of GOSAT TANSO-FTS. The