The Mexican Space Agency (AEM) has announced that the “Mexican Observatory of Climate and Atmospheric Composition” (OMECCA) project will soon commence operations. OMECCA, a collaborative effort between the AEM, the Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate Change (ICACC) of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), and the National Institute of Ecology and Climate Change (INECC), aims to enhance Mexico’s space infrastructure while focusing on the scientific understanding of climate change phenomena.

OMECCA’s inauguration took place at UNAM on October 18, with the participation of Scientific Research Coordinator William Lee and INECC Director Jorge Zavala. Located in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve in the State of Campeche, OMECCA is the first project of its kind in Latin America.

AEM Director General Salvador Landeros Ayala emphasized the significance of in-depth study of climate change phenomena, stating that they remain incompletely understood by the global scientific community. The acceleration of climate change, including the unprecedented intensification of natural disasters such as hurricanes, highlights the urgency for comprehensive research on global warming and its associated effects.

OMECCA will contribute crucially to addressing this need. By integrating with the University Network of Atmospheric Observatories (RUOA) and participating in data exchange with international networks that utilize similar instruments, OMECCA will enhance the systematic collection of data on climate change, greenhouse gases, and atmospheric pollutants. This comprehensive dataset will play a pivotal role in developing effective strategies for mitigation and adaptation.

This state-of-the-art technology implemented by Michel Grutter de la Mora, head of Spectroscopy and Remote Sensing at ICACC, will enable precise and detailed measurements of carbon and water vapor fluxes in southeastern Mexico. The data obtained will significantly contribute to the scientific community’s understanding of climate change and its impact on the region and the world.