The operational NO2 tropospheric column products are generated using the algorithm GDP (GOME Data Processor) version 4.x for NO2 [Valks et al. (2011)] integrated into the UPAS (Universal Processor for UV / VIS Atmospheric Spectrometers) processor for generating level 2 trace gas and cloud products. The total NO2 column is retrieved from GOME solar back-scattered measurements in the visible wavelength region using the DOAS method.

An additional algorithm is applied to derive the tropospheric NO2 column: after subtracting the estimated stratospheric component from the total column, the tropospheric NO2 column is determined using an air mass factor based on monthly climatological NO2 profiles from the MOZART-2 model.

The Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment-2 (GOME-2) instrument continues the long-term monitoring of atmospheric trace gas constituents started with GOME / ERS-2 and SCIAMACHY / Envisat. Currently, there are three GOME-2 instruments operating on board EUMETSAT's Meteorological Operational satellites MetOp-A, -B, and -C, launched in October 2006, September 2012, and November 2018, respectively. GOME-2 can measure a range of atmospheric trace constituents, with the emphasis on global ozone distributions. Furthermore, cloud properties and intensities of ultraviolet radiation are retrieved. These data are crucial for monitoring the atmospheric composition and the detection of pollutants. DLR generates operational GOME-2 / MetOp level 2 products in the framework of EUMETSAT's Satellite Application Facility on Atmospheric Chemistry Monitoring (AC-SAF). GOME-2 near-real-time products are available already two hours after sensing.