Preliminary results from the Lauder site of the Total Carbon Column Observing Network TCCON

We give a brief description of the Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON), a new network of ground-based Fourier Transform spectrometers (FTS) dedicated to measurement of greenhouse gas absorption (CO2, CO, N2O, CH4) in the near infrared. We present preliminary retrievals of CO2 total column densities from the TCCON site in Lauder, New Zealand between July 2004 – when routine measurements began – and April 2005, and compare these retrievals with in-situ CO2 measurements from the monitoring station at Baring Head, New Zealand. A discussion of how we plan to compare the ground-based FTS retrievals with in-situ surface observations and greenhouse gas retrievals from satellite radiances follows.