Atmospheric characterization through fused mobile airborne and surface in situ surveys: methane emissions quantification from a producing oil field

Leifer, Ira; Melton, Christopher; Fischer, M. L.; Fladeland, Matthew; Frash, Jason; Gore, Warren J.; Iraci, L. T.; Marrero, Josette E.; Ryoo, Ju‐Mee; Tanaka, Tomoaki; Yates, E. L.

doi:10.5194/amt-11-1689-2018

Cited by 16 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…Since the launch of SCIAMACHY in 2002, remote sensing data on global distributions of column-averaged dry-air mole fractions for atmospheric carbon dioxide (XCO 2 ) and methane (XCH 4 ) come most often from surface-reflected near-infrared and short-wave infrared radiation detectors (Bovensmann et al, 1999;Kuze et al, 2009;Reuter et al, 2011;Butz et al, 2012;Eldering et al, 2012;Reuter et al, 2019). While important insights into greenhouse gas budgets have been gained (Bergamaschi et al, 2013;Basu et al, 2013), there are still significant limitations when using infrared methods (Kirschke et al, 2013;Le Quéré et al, 2018). As an alternative to passive remote sensing, the integrated path differential absorption (IPDA) technique has been adapted in recent years to provide column-averaged measurements of greenhouse gas mole fractions with high accuracy (e.g.…”

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confidence: 99%

In situ observations of greenhouse gases over Europe during the CoMet 1.0 campaign aboard the HALO aircraft

et al. 2021

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Abstract. The intensive measurement campaign CoMet 1.0 (Carbon Dioxide and Methane Mission) took place during May and June 2018, with a focus on greenhouse gases over Europe. CoMet 1.0 aimed at characterising the distribution of CH4 and CO2 over significant regional sources with the use of a fleet of research aircraft as well as validating remote sensing measurements from state-of-the-art instrumentation installed on board against a set of independent in situ observations. Here we present the results of over 55 h of accurate and precise in situ measurements of CO2, CH4 and CO mole fractions made during CoMet 1.0 flights with a cavity ring-down spectrometer aboard the German research aircraft HALO (High Altitude and LOng Range Research Aircraft), together with results from analyses of 96 discrete air samples collected aboard the same platform. A careful in-flight calibration strategy together with post-flight quality assessment made it possible to determine both the single-measurement precision as well as biases against respective World Meteorological Organization (WMO) scales. We compare the result of greenhouse gas observations against two of the available global modelling systems, namely Jena CarboScope and CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service). We find overall good agreement between the global models and the observed mole fractions in the free tropospheric range, characterised by very low bias values for the CAMS CH4 and the CarboScope CO2 products, with a mean free tropospheric offset of 0 (14) nmol mol−1 and 0.8 (1.3) µmol mol−1 respectively, with the numbers in parentheses giving the standard uncertainty in the final digits for the numerical value. Higher bias is observed for CAMS CO2 (equal to 3.7 (1.5) µmol mol−1), and for CO the model–observation mismatch is variable with height (with offset equal to −1.0 (8.8) nmol mol−1). We also present laboratory analyses of air samples collected throughout the flights, which include information on the isotopic composition of CH4, and we demonstrate the potential of simultaneously measuring δ13C−CH4 and δ2H−CH4 from air to determine the sources of enhanced methane signals using even a limited number of discrete samples. Using flasks collected during two flights over the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB, southern Poland), one of the strongest methane-emitting regions in the European Union, we were able to use the Miller–Tans approach to derive the isotopic signature of the measured source, with values of δ2H equal to −224.7 (6.6) ‰ and δ13C to −50.9 (1.1) ‰, giving significantly lower δ2H values compared to previous studies in the area.

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confidence: 99%

In situ observations of greenhouse gases over Europe during the CoMet 1.0 campaign aboard the HALO aircraft

et al. 2021

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“…CH 4 leakage plumes have been documented by remote sensing for this active oil field [20], as well as by in situ observations [28].…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 86%

“…CH4 leakage plumes have been documented by remote sensing for this active oil field [20], as well as by in situ observations [28]. The land cover types for the three pixels selected for sensitivity analysis are noted, by Ar, Bsl, and Rbl, which are for Asphalt road, Brown sandy loam, and Reddish brown sandy loam, respectively.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Emissions have been estimated at~1.0-1.5 ×10 5 m 3 day −1 (25 Gg year −1 ) [27] for the COP seep field. Emissions for the Kern Front oil field were estimated at~60 Gg year −1 in September 2014, decreasing exponentially to~30 Gg year −1 by late 2015 [28]. The scoping study revealed a dramatic performance difference for XCH4 retrievals (Figure 1).…”

Section: Study Motivationmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Challenges in Methane Column Retrievals from AVIRIS-NG Imagery over Spectrally Cluttered Surfaces: A Sensitivity Analysis

Zhang

Leifer

2017

Remote Sensing

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Abstract:A comparison between efforts to detect methane anomalies by a simple band ratio approach from the Airborne Visual Infrared Imaging Spectrometer-Classic (AVIRIS-C) data for the Kern Front oil field, Central California, and the Coal Oil Point marine hydrocarbon seep field, offshore southern California, was conducted. The detection succeeded for the marine source and failed for the terrestrial source, despite these sources being of comparable strength. Scene differences were investigated in higher spectral and spatial resolution collected by the AVIRIS-C successor instrument, AVIRIS Next Generation (AVIRIS-NG), by a sensitivity study. Sensitivity to factors including water vapor, aerosol, planetary boundary layer (PBL) structure, illumination and viewing angle, and surface albedo clutter were explored. The study used the residual radiance method, with sensitivity derived from MODTRAN (MODerate resolution atmospheric correction TRANsmission) simulations of column methane (XCH 4 ). Simulations used the spectral specifications and geometries of AVIRIS-NG and were based on a uniform or an in situ vertical CH 4 profile, which was measured concurrent with the AVIRIS-NG data. Small but significant sensitivity was found for PBL structure and water vapor; however, highly non-linear, extremely strong sensitivity was found for surface albedo error. For example, a 10% decrease in the surface albedo corresponded to a 300% XCH 4 increase over background XCH 4 to compensate for the total signal, less so for stronger plumes. This strong non-linear sensitivity resulted from the high percentage of surface-reflected radiance in the airborne at-sensor total radiance. Coarse spectral resolution and feedback from interferents like water vapor underlay this sensitivity. Imaging spectrometry like AVIRIS and the Hyperspectral InfraRed Imager (HyspIRI) candidate satellite mission, have the advantages of contextual spatial information and greater at-sensor total radiance. However, they also face challenges due to their relatively broad spectral resolution compared to trace gas specific orbital sensors, e.g., the Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite (GOSAT), which is especially applicable to trace gas retrievals over scenes with high spectral albedo variability. Results of the sensitivity analysis are applicable for the residual radiance method and CH 4 profiles used in the analysis, but they illustrate potential significant challenges in CH 4 retrievals using other approaches.

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“…In situ data analysis leverages multiple gas measurements e for example, Leifer et al (2016b) used emissions of CO 2 , CH 4 , and NH 3 to estimate robustly herd size for a single dairy, improving emissions estimation. Additional details are provided in Leifer et al (2018); (Leifer et al, 2014); Leifer et al (2016b).…”

Section: Amog Surveyor E Mobile In Situ Concentrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Validation of mobile in situ measurements of dairy husbandry emissions by fusion of airborne/surface remote sensing with seasonal context from the Chino Dairy Complex

Leifer

Melton

Tratt

et al. 2018

Environmental Pollution

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Mobile in situ concentration and meteorology data were collected for the Chino Dairy Complex in the Los Angeles Basin by AMOG (AutoMObile trace Gas) Surveyor on 25 June 2015 to characterize husbandry emissions in the near and far field in convoy mode with MISTIR (Mobile Infrared Sensor for Tactical Incident Response), a mobile upwards-looking, column remote sensing spectrometer. MISTIR reference flux validated AMOG plume inversions at different information levels including multiple gases, GoogleEarth imagery, and airborne trace gas remote sensing data. Long-term (9-yr.) Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer satellite data provided spatial and trace gas temporal context. For the Chino dairies, MISTIR-AMOG ammonia (NH) agreement was within 5% (15.7 versus 14.9 Gg yr, respectively) using all information. Methane (CH) emissions were 30 Gg yr for a 45,200 herd size, indicating that Chino emission factors are greater than previously reported. Single dairy inversions were much less successful. AMOG-MISTIR agreement was 57% due to wind heterogeneity from downwind structures in these near-field measurements and emissions unsteadiness. AMOG CH, NH, and CO emissions were 91, 209, and 8200 Mg yr, implying 2480, 1870, and 1720 head using published emission factors. Plumes fingerprinting identified likely sources including manure storage, cowsheds, and a structure with likely natural gas combustion. NH downwind of Chino showed a seasonal variation of a factor of ten, three times larger than literature suggests. Chino husbandry practices and trends in herd size and production were reviewed and unlikely to add seasonality. Higher emission seasonality was proposed as legacy soil emissions, the results of a century of husbandry, supported by airborne remote sensing data showing widespread emissions from neighborhoods that were dairies 15 years prior, and AMOG and MISTIR observations. Seasonal variations provide insights into the implications of global climate change and must be considered when comparing surveys from different seasons.

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Atmospheric characterization through fused mobile airborne and surface in situ surveys: methane emissions quantification from a producing oil field

Cited by 16 publications

References 51 publications

In situ observations of greenhouse gases over Europe during the CoMet 1.0 campaign aboard the HALO aircraft

In situ observations of greenhouse gases over Europe during the CoMet 1.0 campaign aboard the HALO aircraft

Challenges in Methane Column Retrievals from AVIRIS-NG Imagery over Spectrally Cluttered Surfaces: A Sensitivity Analysis

Validation of mobile in situ measurements of dairy husbandry emissions by fusion of airborne/surface remote sensing with seasonal context from the Chino Dairy Complex

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