Airborne Spectroscopic Methane Quantification

"Methane is an important greenhouse gas, emissions of which have vital consequences for global climate change. Understanding and quantifying the sources (and sinks) of atmospheric methane is integral for climate change mitigation and emission reduction strategies, such as those outlined in the 2015 UN Paris Agreement on Climate Change."

"The advancements in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology over the past decade have opened up a new avenue for methane emission quantification. UAVs can be uniquely equipped to monitor natural and anthropogenic emissions at local scales, displaying clear advantages in versatility and maneuverability relative to other platforms. Their use is not without challenge, however: further miniaturization of high-performance methane instrumentation is needed to fully use the benefits UAVs afford. Developments in the models used to simulate atmospheric transport and dispersion across small, local scales are also crucial to improved flux accuracy and precision."

Methods for quantifying methane emissions using unmanned aerial vehicles: a review [Jacob T. Shaw][0], [Adil Shah][1], [Han Yong][2] and [Grant Allen][3] (27/09/2021)

Big Sky Theory continues its work to understand fugitive methane emissions using UAV or 'drone' technology and the address the challenges raised by Shaw, Shah et al.

Academic research has catalogued the speed and reach of airborne inspections as an inspection capability multiplier. Current understanding of this technique limits Tuneable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy (TDLAS) inspection to detection and geolocation. Big Sky Theory, with NPL, wish to test and evaluate open-path spectroscopic methods to develop the algorithms required to translate PPM-m into a quantified flow rate (ltr/min).

The project will include a thorough literature review and lab-based testing prior to deployed fieldwork and analysis. Using a variety of ground surfaces and commensurate albedo values, the deployment will create a significant data set of spectroscopic measures (ppm.m) for algorithmic translation and resultant volumetric or mass emission rate.

The goal is to validate TDLAS techniques to identify the applicability of the sensor as a quantification tool. Big Sky Theory, alongside NPL, aims to provide the accuracy and fidelity required to make informed decisions as part of an effective methane management strategy via a solution that removes the current need to deploy personnel into hazardous areas to measure emissions using alternative technologies and techniques.

[0]: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rsta.2020.0450 "Jacob T. Shaw"
[1]: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rsta.2020.0450 "Adil Shah"
[2]: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rsta.2020.0450 "Han Yong"
[3]: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rsta.2020.0450 "Grant Allen"