Standoff Infrared Measurements of Chemical Plume Dynamics in Complex Terrain Using a Combination of Active Swept-ECQCL Laser Spectroscopy with Passive Hyperspectral Imaging

Chemical plume detection and modeling in complex terrain present numerous challenges. We present experimental results from outdoor releases of two chemical tracers (sulfur hexafluoride and Freon-152a) from different locations in mountainous terrain. Chemical plumes were detected using two standoff i...

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Main Authors: Mark C. Phillips, Bruce E. Bernacki, Patrick T. Conry, Michael J. Brown
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-08-01
Series:Remote Sensing
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/15/3756
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author Mark C. Phillips
Bruce E. Bernacki
Patrick T. Conry
Michael J. Brown
author_facet Mark C. Phillips
Bruce E. Bernacki
Patrick T. Conry
Michael J. Brown
author_sort Mark C. Phillips
collection DOAJ
description Chemical plume detection and modeling in complex terrain present numerous challenges. We present experimental results from outdoor releases of two chemical tracers (sulfur hexafluoride and Freon-152a) from different locations in mountainous terrain. Chemical plumes were detected using two standoff instruments collocated at a distance of 1.5 km from the plume releases. A passive long-wave infrared hyperspectral imaging system was used to show time- and space-resolved plume transport in regions near the source. An active infrared swept-wavelength external cavity quantum cascade laser system was used in a standoff configuration to measure quantitative chemical column densities with high time resolution and high sensitivity along a single measurement path. Both instruments provided chemical-specific detection of the plumes and provided complementary information over different temporal and spatial scales. The results show highly variable plume propagation dynamics near the release points, strongly dependent on the local topography and winds. Effects of plume stagnation, plume splitting, and plume mixing were all observed and are explained based on local topographic and wind conditions. Measured plume column densities at distances ~100 m from the release point show temporal fluctuations over ~1 s time scales and spatial variations over ~1 m length scales. The results highlight the need for high-speed and spatially resolved measurement techniques to provide validation data at the relevant spatial and temporal scales required for high-fidelity terrain-aware microscale plume propagation models.
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spelling doaj.art-32a7872ebe9d41ecb53e2269dbdcd1dd2023-12-01T23:08:39ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922022-08-011415375610.3390/rs14153756Standoff Infrared Measurements of Chemical Plume Dynamics in Complex Terrain Using a Combination of Active Swept-ECQCL Laser Spectroscopy with Passive Hyperspectral ImagingMark C. Phillips0Bruce E. Bernacki1Patrick T. Conry2Michael J. Brown3Wyant College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USAPacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Boulevard, Richland, WA 99352, USALos Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87544, USALos Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87544, USAChemical plume detection and modeling in complex terrain present numerous challenges. We present experimental results from outdoor releases of two chemical tracers (sulfur hexafluoride and Freon-152a) from different locations in mountainous terrain. Chemical plumes were detected using two standoff instruments collocated at a distance of 1.5 km from the plume releases. A passive long-wave infrared hyperspectral imaging system was used to show time- and space-resolved plume transport in regions near the source. An active infrared swept-wavelength external cavity quantum cascade laser system was used in a standoff configuration to measure quantitative chemical column densities with high time resolution and high sensitivity along a single measurement path. Both instruments provided chemical-specific detection of the plumes and provided complementary information over different temporal and spatial scales. The results show highly variable plume propagation dynamics near the release points, strongly dependent on the local topography and winds. Effects of plume stagnation, plume splitting, and plume mixing were all observed and are explained based on local topographic and wind conditions. Measured plume column densities at distances ~100 m from the release point show temporal fluctuations over ~1 s time scales and spatial variations over ~1 m length scales. The results highlight the need for high-speed and spatially resolved measurement techniques to provide validation data at the relevant spatial and temporal scales required for high-fidelity terrain-aware microscale plume propagation models.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/15/3756hyperspectral imaginglaser spectroscopyinfraredplume detectionquantum cascade laserchemical sensing
spellingShingle Mark C. Phillips
Bruce E. Bernacki
Patrick T. Conry
Michael J. Brown
Standoff Infrared Measurements of Chemical Plume Dynamics in Complex Terrain Using a Combination of Active Swept-ECQCL Laser Spectroscopy with Passive Hyperspectral Imaging
Remote Sensing
hyperspectral imaging
laser spectroscopy
infrared
plume detection
quantum cascade laser
chemical sensing
title Standoff Infrared Measurements of Chemical Plume Dynamics in Complex Terrain Using a Combination of Active Swept-ECQCL Laser Spectroscopy with Passive Hyperspectral Imaging
title_full Standoff Infrared Measurements of Chemical Plume Dynamics in Complex Terrain Using a Combination of Active Swept-ECQCL Laser Spectroscopy with Passive Hyperspectral Imaging
title_fullStr Standoff Infrared Measurements of Chemical Plume Dynamics in Complex Terrain Using a Combination of Active Swept-ECQCL Laser Spectroscopy with Passive Hyperspectral Imaging
title_full_unstemmed Standoff Infrared Measurements of Chemical Plume Dynamics in Complex Terrain Using a Combination of Active Swept-ECQCL Laser Spectroscopy with Passive Hyperspectral Imaging
title_short Standoff Infrared Measurements of Chemical Plume Dynamics in Complex Terrain Using a Combination of Active Swept-ECQCL Laser Spectroscopy with Passive Hyperspectral Imaging
title_sort standoff infrared measurements of chemical plume dynamics in complex terrain using a combination of active swept ecqcl laser spectroscopy with passive hyperspectral imaging
topic hyperspectral imaging
laser spectroscopy
infrared
plume detection
quantum cascade laser
chemical sensing
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/15/3756
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