Spectral measurements from the satellite instruments GOME and SCIAMACHY allow to determine column densities of several important atmospheric absorbers,amongst them Glyoxal (C2H2O2) and Formaldehyde (HCHO).Both species are formed by the oxidation of several volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hence serve as an important indicator for VOC chemistry.Both traces gases have characteristic absorption bands in the UV and visible spectral range,allowing remote sensing by Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS).Here we present the results of Glyoxal and Formaldehyde retrieved from GOME and SCIAMACHY spectra.The mean global Glyoxal and Formaldehyde distributions indicate several photochemical hotspots due to anthropogenic emissions as well as biogenic and biomass burning VOC emissions.Also over some bioactive oceanic regions (Gulf of Congo or over the coast of Peru) enhanced Glyoxal levels correlate to enhanced Formaldehyde levels,possibly indicating VOC emissions over ocean.