Ground-to-UAV, laser-based emissions quantification of methane and acetylene at long standoff distances
<p>Determination of trace gas emissions from sources is critical for understanding and regulating air quality and climate change. Here, we demonstrate a method for rapid quantification of the emission rate of multiple gases from simple and complex sources using a mass balance approach with a s...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Measurement Techniques |
| Online Access: | https://amt.copernicus.org/articles/16/5697/2023/amt-16-5697-2023.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797449144459067392 |
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| author | K. C. Cossel E. M. Waxman E. Hoenig D. Hesselius C. Chaote I. Coddington N. R. Newbury |
| author_facet | K. C. Cossel E. M. Waxman E. Hoenig D. Hesselius C. Chaote I. Coddington N. R. Newbury |
| author_sort | K. C. Cossel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Determination of trace gas emissions from sources is critical for understanding and regulating air quality and climate change. Here, we demonstrate a method for rapid quantification of the emission rate of multiple gases from simple and complex sources using a mass balance approach with a spatially scannable open-path sensor – in this case, an open-path dual-comb spectrometer. The open-path spectrometer measures the total column density of gases between the spectrometer and a retroreflector mounted on an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV). By measuring slant columns at multiple UAV altitudes downwind of a source (or sink), the total emission rate can be rapidly determined without the need for an atmospheric dispersion model. Here, we demonstrate this technique using controlled releases of CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> and C<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>H<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>. We show an emission rate determination to within 56 % of the known flux with a single 10 min flight and within 15 % of the known flux after 12 flights. Furthermore, we estimate the detection limit for CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> emissions to be 0.03 g CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> s<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span>. This detection limit is approximately the same as the emissions from 25 head of beef cattle and is less than the average emissions from a small oil field pneumatic controller. Other gases including CO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>, NH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>3</sub></span>, HDO, ethane, formaldehyde (HCHO), CO, and N<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>O can be measured by simply changing the dual-comb spectrometer.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:20:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-63ae70467bc543f0a65fcf845eb29fca |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1867-1381 1867-8548 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:20:34Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Measurement Techniques |
| spelling | doaj.art-63ae70467bc543f0a65fcf845eb29fca2023-11-28T12:49:13ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Measurement Techniques1867-13811867-85482023-11-01165697570710.5194/amt-16-5697-2023Ground-to-UAV, laser-based emissions quantification of methane and acetylene at long standoff distancesK. C. Cossel0E. M. Waxman1E. Hoenig2D. Hesselius3C. Chaote4I. Coddington5N. R. Newbury6National Institute of Standards and Technology, Spectrum Technology and Research Division, Boulder, CO 80305, USANational Institute of Standards and Technology, Spectrum Technology and Research Division, Boulder, CO 80305, USANational Institute of Standards and Technology, Spectrum Technology and Research Division, Boulder, CO 80305, USAIntegrated Remote and In-Situ Sensing (IRISS), University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80305, USAIntegrated Remote and In-Situ Sensing (IRISS), University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80305, USANational Institute of Standards and Technology, Spectrum Technology and Research Division, Boulder, CO 80305, USANational Institute of Standards and Technology, Spectrum Technology and Research Division, Boulder, CO 80305, USA<p>Determination of trace gas emissions from sources is critical for understanding and regulating air quality and climate change. Here, we demonstrate a method for rapid quantification of the emission rate of multiple gases from simple and complex sources using a mass balance approach with a spatially scannable open-path sensor – in this case, an open-path dual-comb spectrometer. The open-path spectrometer measures the total column density of gases between the spectrometer and a retroreflector mounted on an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV). By measuring slant columns at multiple UAV altitudes downwind of a source (or sink), the total emission rate can be rapidly determined without the need for an atmospheric dispersion model. Here, we demonstrate this technique using controlled releases of CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> and C<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>H<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>. We show an emission rate determination to within 56 % of the known flux with a single 10 min flight and within 15 % of the known flux after 12 flights. Furthermore, we estimate the detection limit for CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> emissions to be 0.03 g CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> s<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span>. This detection limit is approximately the same as the emissions from 25 head of beef cattle and is less than the average emissions from a small oil field pneumatic controller. Other gases including CO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>, NH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>3</sub></span>, HDO, ethane, formaldehyde (HCHO), CO, and N<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>O can be measured by simply changing the dual-comb spectrometer.</p>https://amt.copernicus.org/articles/16/5697/2023/amt-16-5697-2023.pdf |
| spellingShingle | K. C. Cossel E. M. Waxman E. Hoenig D. Hesselius C. Chaote I. Coddington N. R. Newbury Ground-to-UAV, laser-based emissions quantification of methane and acetylene at long standoff distances Atmospheric Measurement Techniques |
| title | Ground-to-UAV, laser-based emissions quantification of methane and acetylene at long standoff distances |
| title_full | Ground-to-UAV, laser-based emissions quantification of methane and acetylene at long standoff distances |
| title_fullStr | Ground-to-UAV, laser-based emissions quantification of methane and acetylene at long standoff distances |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ground-to-UAV, laser-based emissions quantification of methane and acetylene at long standoff distances |
| title_short | Ground-to-UAV, laser-based emissions quantification of methane and acetylene at long standoff distances |
| title_sort | ground to uav laser based emissions quantification of methane and acetylene at long standoff distances |
| url | https://amt.copernicus.org/articles/16/5697/2023/amt-16-5697-2023.pdf |
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