Articles | Volume 26, issue 14
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-10477-2026
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-10477-2026
Research article
 | 
27 Jul 2026
Research article |  | 27 Jul 2026

Exploring atmospheric CH4 monitoring network expansion in Italy using inverse modelling

Joël Thanwerdas, Paolo Cristofanelli, Angela Fiore, Rianne Dröge, Sophie Van Mil, Yohanna Villalobos, Zhendong Wu, and Dominik Brunner

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AR – Author's response | RR – Referee report | ED – Editor decision | EF – Editorial file upload
AR by Joel Thanwerdas on behalf of the Authors (22 May 2026)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (26 May 2026) by Pablo Saide
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (08 Jun 2026)
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (09 Jun 2026)
ED: Publish subject to technical corrections (09 Jun 2026) by Pablo Saide
AR by Joel Thanwerdas on behalf of the Authors (12 Jun 2026)  Author's response   Manuscript 
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Short summary
We assess how expanding Italy’s sparse ICOS (Integrated Carbon Observation System) methane network could improve methane emission estimates. Using transport modelling, data assimilation methods and synthetic observations, we test eight candidate sites. Chieti, in Central Italy and Mount Venda, in Northern Italy, provide the strongest added constraints, respectively. The framework developed here can be applied to other countries to optimize their atmospheric measurement networks and to improve constraints on greenhouse gas emissions.
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