Project Brief: Purdue University

NIST Measurement Science and Engineering Research Grants

DEVELOPMENT, IMPROVEMENT, AND ASSESSMENT OF THE ACCURACY OF AIRCRAFT-BASED MASS BALANCE MEASUREMENTS OF THE INTEGRATED URBAN FLUXES OF GREENHOUSE GASES

This project aims to develop, improve, and assess the accuracy of measurements of the total greenhouse gas (carbon dioxide and methane) emissions from urban environments.

RECIPIENT: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

• Project duration: 3 Years
• Total NIST Funding: $1,500,000

This proposal seeks to address a key measurement gap in the ability to track the origin and fate of atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHGs), namely, the disconnect and uncertainty in inventory-based methods and emission measurements. This proposal seeks to reduce large measurement uncertainties (20% or more) in greenhouse gas fluxes on local spatial and temporal scales. The reconciliation of GHG emissions based on bottom-up and top-down methods will help make carbon-control strategies economically viable, and will addresses a generic problem with broad implications to domestic and international commerce. If successful, this research will demonstrate how to significantly reduce the uncertainties in estimates of GHG emissions over regional, metropolitan and local spatial scales. Quantitative results of this type are required to ensure the success of GHG mitigation strategies.

Public contact (for project information):

Phillip Fiorini
Office of Marketing and Media
Purdue University
765-496-3133
765-494-0401 (fax)
pfiorini [at] purdue.edu (pfiorini[at]purdue[dot]edu)

NIST Program Office Contact:

Jason Boehm, 301-975-8678Jason.boehm [at] nist.gov (
Jason[dot]boehm[at]nist[dot]gov)