Ground-to-UAV, laser-based, emissions quantification of methane and acetylene at long standoff distances

Published

November 28, 2023

Author(s)

Kevin Cossel, Eleanor Waxman, Eli Hoenig, Dan Hesselius, Chris Chaote, Ian Coddington, Nathan Newbury

Abstract

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 vertically 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 carried on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). By locating the measurement path downwind of a source (or sink) and translating the path vertically with the UAV, 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 CH4 and C2H2. We show an emission rate determination to within 50% of the know flux with a single 10-minute flight and within 10% of the know flux after 10 flights. Furthermore, we estimate a detection limit for CH4 here to be 0.03 g CH4/s. 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 pneumatic controller. Other gases including CO2, NH3, HDO, ethane, formaldehyde (HCHO), CO, and N2O can be measured by simply changing the dual-comb spectrometer.

Citation

Atmospheric Measurement Techniques

Volume

16

Issue

22

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-5697-2023

Local Download

Citation

Cossel, K. , Waxman, E. , Hoenig, E. , Hesselius, D. , Chaote, C. , Coddington, I. and Newbury, N. (2023), Ground-to-UAV, laser-based, emissions quantification of methane and acetylene at long standoff distances, Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, [online], https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-5697-2023, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=936448 (Accessed March 15, 2026)