The Airborne Methane Plume Spectrometer (AMPS): Quantitative Imaging of Methane Plumes in Real Time
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Thorpe, Andrew K.↗
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Visualizing anthropogenic methane plumes from the California Methane Survey
UNKNOWN
Miller, Charles E.↗
Martian Atmospheric Methane Plumes from Meteor Shower Infall: A Hypothesis
Methane plumes in the martian atmosphere have been detected using Earth-based spectroscopy, the Planetary Fourier Spectrometer on the ESA Mars Express mission, and the NASA Mars Science Laboratory. The methane's origin remains a mystery, with proposed sources including volcanism, exogenous sources like impacts and interplanetary dust, aqueous alteration of olivine in the presence of carbonaceous material, release from ancient deposits of methane clathrates, and/or biological activity. To date, none of these phenomena have been found to reliably correlate with the detection of methane plumes. An additional source exists, however: meteor showers could generate martian methane via UV pyrolysis of carbon-rich infall material. We find a correlation between the dates of Mars/cometary orbit encounters and detections of methane on Mars. We hypothesize that cometary debris falls onto Mars during these interactions, depositing freshly disaggregated meteor shower material in a regional concentration. The material generates methane via UV photolysis, resulting in a localized "plume" of short-lived methane.
Fries, M.↗
Methane Plume Emissions Associated With Puget Sound Faults in the Cascadia Forearc
Methane gas plumes have been discovered to issue from the seafloor in the Puget Sound estuary. These gas emission sites are co-located over traces of three major fault zones that fracture the entire forearc crust of the Cascadia Subduction Zone. Multibeam and single-beam sonar data from cruises conducted in 2011, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 identified the acoustic signature of over 330 bubble plumes. Dissolved gas from the plumes combines to elevate seawater methane concentrations of the entire Puget Sound estuary. Fluid samples from adjacent terrestrial hot springs and deep-water wells surrounding the estuary contain a helium-3 isotope signature, indicating a deep fluid source located near the underlying Cascadia Subduction Zone. However, Puget Sound seawater emission sites lack chemical isotope signatures and elevated thermal anomalies expected from association with a deep plate-interface reservoir. The existence of vigorous marine methane plumes located in areas of thin sediment cover and above the traces of deeply-penetrating forearc fault zones – but still presenting no thermal or chemical anomalies that are found in many other similar forearc environments and remain an unresolved paradox.
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
Observation and Simulation of Methane Plumes During the Morning Boundary Layer Transition
Abstract Methane (CH 4 ) contributes significantly to global warming. However, accurate identification of CH 4 sources for reducing CH 4 emissions is often hampered by inadequate accuracy and spatiotemporal coverage of CH 4 detection, and lack of accurate CH 4 forward modeling used in top‐down inversion systems. In this study, a field experiment was conducted in Pampa, Texas using two CH 4 sensors (LI‐COR and OGI camera) to detect CH 4 releases. We investigated whether high‐resolution simulations using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model with greenhouse gases (WRF‐GHG) could accurately simulate the CH 4 plumes in the presence of evolving atmospheric boundary layer from sunrise to noon. CH 4 plumes showed substantial variation in time. At a release rate of ∼17.5 kg hr −1 , the maximum enhancement of CH 4 measured by LI‐COR was 2.6 ppm at sunrise (7:36 a.m.), 250 m from the release location. Within half an hour after sunrise, this enhancement decreased to 0.3–0.4 ppm. The enhancement was 0.2 ppm by 10:00 a.m. and further dropped to less than 0.1 ppm after 11:30 a.m. Due to the low temperature at sunrise, the OGI camera failed to detect the CH 4 plume. The WRF‐GHG large‐eddy simulation (LES) with 32 m grid spacing successfully reproduced these CH 4 enhancements. In situ measurements together with numerical simulations illustrate the impact of the transition from a stable boundary layer in the early morning to a convective boundary layer at noon on the dispersion of CH 4 plumes. Additionally, CH 4 plumes from a cattle farm in Oklahoma are briefly examined using the same modeling approach.
Hu, Xiao‐Ming [Center for Analysis and Prediction ↗
Stationary and drone-assisted methane plume localization with dispersion spectroscopy
This work presents stationary and mobile retroreflector-based remote sensing techniques for methane leak localization and quantification using chirped laser dispersion spectroscopy equipped with a custom laser transceiver capable of continuous tracking of a flying drone and coupled with inverse atmospheric gas dispersion modeling. The techniques demonstrate the ability to localize leaks as low as 0.13 g CH 4 ·s -1 , which are up to 25 times smaller than those typically observed at natural gas facilities, as well as actively track a moving retroreflector mounted on a lightweight (~250 g) drone to enable spatial plume reconstruction. This system exhibited a 2.3 ppm-m sensitivity over pathlengths of 40–150 m. Source localization to within ±7 m is demonstrated using a modified horizontal radial plume mapping technique with a stationary retroreflector grid. Meanwhile, the mobile system utilizing a drone-mounted retroreflector is able to localize a controlled release within ±1 m of its source location and estimate leak rates using inversion techniques assuming type B Gaussian plume stability class within ±30% error with respect to the actual low flow rate releases.
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
Observation and Simulation of Methane Plumes During the Morning Boundary Layer Transition
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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
Gulf of Mexico Health & Air Quality: Mapping Methane Emission Plumes Using Sunglint-configured Imagery for Monitoring Offshore Oil and Gas Activity
We had three project objectives that we set out to accomplish. The first objective is to demonstrate how remote sensing can complement the current bottom-up methane emission assessments. Currently, quantities of disposed gas vented and flared are self-reported by operators to BOEM and BSEE. Meanwhile, inspections are uncommon, and ground sensors are non-existent. Therefore, remote sensing may be the agencies' best bet in verifying these operator accounts. The second objective is to identify methane plumes in the Gulf of Mexico, Asia, and elsewhere using Sentinel-2, LandSat, and PRISMA images, and then present an estimate of their emission rate. While methane retrievals from oil and gas infrastructure on-shore has been relatively well-documented, doing so on the offshore oil and gas platforms is more difficult, less prevalent, and contingent on the presence of specific conditions. The final objective is to give our partners, BOEM and BSEE, a more robust understanding of methane emissions from oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico. This increased knowledge, paired with a demonstration of methane monitoring, is intended to help our partners think about how they can incorporate remote sensing into their monitoring, regulatory and enforcement framework.
Ben Dahan↗
Gulf of Mexico Health & Air Quality Ii: Mapping Methane Emission Plumes Using Sunglint-Configured Imagery for Monitoring Offshore Oil and Gas Activity
Offshore oil and gas production in the United States is a major source of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and accounts for nearly 30% of global oil and gas production. Methane venting and flaring are primary contributors to offshore emissions, and monitoring these activities is crucial for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Limited ground truthing and intermittent offshore satellite revisits make monitoring venting and flaring challenging. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) oversee offshore oil and gas activity but rely primarily on operator-reported data. The non-profit organization SkyTruth monitors natural resources like methane and identifies sources of fugitive emissions. By combining BOEM and BSEE’s operational data along with observations from Sentinel-2 Multispectral Instrument (MSI), Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) and Landsat 9 OLI-2, and PRecursore IperSpettrale della Missione Applicativa (PRISMA), the team further identified ultra-emitter point sources in the Gulf of Mexico using sunglint-configured imagery. We quantified these plume emission rates using the methodology from Varon et al. (2020). The team found three plumes in the Gulf of Mexico occurring between 2020 and 2022 using Sentinel-2 MSI and Landsat 9 OLI-2 imagery, in addition to the single plume identified by the Gulf of Mexico Health & Air Quality I team, and successfully quantified three plumes. Our statistical retrieval of three PRISMA images tasked over areas of interest yielded no methane plumes, despite a successful test of a known plume in Assam, India. These analyses serve as a proof of concept for the utility of remote sensing for methane emission monitoring offshore, which can complement regulator emission inventories and validate self-reported operator records.
sunglint↗
Sunglint-aided Methane Retrieval: Using Sentinel-2 to Quantify Offshore Oil and Gas Emissions
The extraction, production, and transportation of oil and gas via activities such as intentional venting and fugitive emissions are leading contributors to anthropogenic methane emissions. Offshore operations comprise a significant percentage of all oil and gas operations, yet emission monitoring over the ocean is insufficient. Due to low surface reflectance over the ocean, remote sensing measurements offshore are limited. Therefore offshore contributions to the overall global methane budget are unknown. Regulators such as the Bureau of Ocean and Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) are unable to validate operator-reported methane emission estimates. The NASA DEVELOP Program partnered with BOEM, BSEE, and SkyTruth to identify potential offshore methane sources in the Gulf of Mexico. Drawing upon existing retrieval methods to detect and quantify onshore methane emissions (Varon et al., 2021), we selected sunglint scenes to detect methane plumes over the ocean in Sentinel-2 imagery. We detected two methane plumes at the Constitution complex in the Gulf of Mexico and off the coast of Pointe-Noire, Congo. If expanded, these methods could serve a vital role in validating operator reporting and quantifying climate impacts of offshore oil and gas operations - complementing those of next generation satellites.
Katherine Howell↗
G301: The Flying Falcon geological remote sensing experiment
Get-Away Special (GAS) G-301, named the Flying Falcon and scheduled for launch on the STS-77 Space Shuttle in April, 1996, is being prepared to perform an experiment designed by the Department of Geology, Bowling Green State University (BGSU). The experiment will employ a new type of infrared imager designed and built by a consortium of Teltron Technologies Inc., Hudson Research Inc., and BGSU that is an uncooled, quantrum ferro-electric, infrared return beam vidicon (IRBV) camera capable of detecting thermal infrared radiation throughout the 2.0-50.0 micron wavelength region, and to which an integral, unable Fabry-Perot filter and a telescopic lens have been added. The primary objectives in the experiment include the mapping of methane plumes from solid waste landfills and wetlands in the midwestern U.S., the mapping of methane plumes offshore in the Gulf of Mexico and in the Middle East, brief monitoring for precursors of volcanoes or earthquakes in the South China sea and the East Pacific Rise (about 300 km west of Easter Island), and the mapping of silica content in exposed outcrops and residual soils of the southwestern U.S. and Middle East.
Vincent, Robert K.↗
Gulf of Mexico Health and Air Quality: Using NASA Earth Observations to Identify Potential Methane Sources for Improved Monitoring of Offshore Oil & Gas Activity in the Gulf of Mexico
The extraction, production, and transportation of oil and gas is a leading contributor to anthropogenic methane emissions via activities such as flaring and venting. The Bureau of Ocean and Energy Management (BOEM) has air quality jurisdiction offshore in the Gulf of Mexico and drafts regulations for criteria pollutants, while the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) enforces these regulations. Additionally, the non-profit organization SkyTruth monitors natural resources, including methane. BOEM, BSEE, and SkyTruth have partnered with NASA DEVELOP to use Earth observations to identify potential offshore methane sources in the Gulf of Mexico and to validate reported flaring activity. This information will allow BOEM and BSEE to make informed regulations regarding air pollution. Here, we cross-referenced BOEM infrastructure data with Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) Visible Infrared Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Nightfire data to validate operator-reported flaring. Sentinel-5p TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) pollutant concentrations were used to validate VIIRS-detected flaring outside of the Gulf of Mexico where operator-reported data is unavailable. Using these methods, we identified the locations of offshore oil and gas infrastructure with known episodic flaring and venting in 2017 in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as offshore of South America and West Africa in 2021. Drawing upon retrieval methods used to detect onshore methane emissions, we proposed an analogous method utilizing sunglint to illuminate methane plumes over the ocean using Sentinel-2 Multispectral Imager (MSI) imagery. We detected two potential methane plumes – one at the Constitution complex in the Gulf of Mexico in July 2017 and one off the Coast of Lagos, West Africa, in July 2021.
Kate Howell↗
Gulf of Mexico Health & Air Quality: Mapping Methane Emission Plumes Using Sunglint-configured Imagery for Monitoring Offshore Oil and Gas Activity
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Ben Dahan↗
Exploring a Potentially Significant New(?) Mechanism for Methane Generation on Mars
An unexplored mechanism for methane production on Mars is presented here. Meteor showers have been hypothesized [1] as an explanation for episodic martian methane events [2-7], as the timing of meteor showers consistently correlates with the episodic methane events. The hypothesis [1] relied on production of methane via UV photolysis of extraterrestrial carbonaceous material [8,9] following dissemination of material into the martian atmosphere and onto the surface. Recently, new insights have emerged about an overlooked mechanism for methane production – plasma methanation [10,11] of martian atmospheric CO2 in meteor plasma. This mechanism can generate methane in addition to that produced by the previously explored methods of direct thermal evolution and UV photolysis, adding to the total methane budget produced through meteor infall. It also delivers methane in a rapid manner consistent with past observations of episodic methane “plumes” on Mars, and at altitudes where methane is rapidly removed afterwards. Methane produced by plasma methanation occurs at high altitude, which matches observations made on Mars where measurements collected through the full thickness of the martian atmosphere are of consistently higher methane concentrations (>10 ppbv [2-6]) than those recorded on the surface by the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover (<10 ppbv [7]). High-altitude methane should be detected by the ESA Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) which has not noted any methane to date. This result is puzzling regardless of the source of methane, but may be explained by the random nature of meteor shower outbursts – a significant infall may simply not have occurred (yet) during the ~3-Earth-year period of TGO observations.
Fries, M.↗
Multi-Scale Integrated Monitoring System for Enhancing Methane Emission Detection, Quantification & Prediction
This report details the progress and findings of a comprehensive study on reviewing existing solutions, identifying technology gaps, and formulating an “all-in-one” integrated strategy for developing the next-generation multiscale methane monitoring and modeling platform, conducted under grant number DE-FE0032292. Co-led by Dr. David Ebert, Dr. Binbin Weng, and Dr. Chenghao Wang at the University of Oklahoma, the project’s goal was to develop an integrated approach for building this engineering platform to detect, quantify, and mitigate methane emissions across various temporal scale, spatial scales, and sectors. The planning grant study began with an extensive review of various methane sensing and monitoring technologies and systems, surveying over 100 technology providers globally. This review revealed the prevalence of optical methods over chemical methods in commercially available sensors, with Non-Dispersive Infrared (NDIR), Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy (TDLAS), and Optical Gas Imaging (OGI) cameras being the most prevalent options. A trend towards more advanced optical techniques was observed, driven by increased regulatory focus and technological advancements. The technical evaluation of these sensing technologies provided crucial insights into their capabilities and limitations. The study examined emerging technologies such as Differential Absorption LiDAR (DIAL), which show promise for high-precision and long-range detection. The team then investigated the features and application bandwidth of various sensing platforms, including handheld, fixed/stationary, mobile, aerials, and spaceborne monitors. Pilot field studies were conducted to assess the capabilities of solutions for different emission scenarios. Field work with sensor deployments was conducted at three distinct site types: an oil & gas industry site, a cattle ranching operation, and a waste processing facility. The team also conducted a thorough review of methane flux inverse modeling approaches, focused on physically based methods. These approaches were categorized into simple, intermediate, and advanced methods. A realtime WRF-GHG (Weather Research and Forecasting-Greenhouse Gas) modeling system was developed and applied, incorporating multiple data sources to guide field experiments and inform methane plume detection. The project identified and analyzed numerous categories of methane data sources, including satellite measurements, ground-based sensors, and inventory databases. Key platforms examined include EDGAR, EPA GHGI, NASA TROPOMI, Carbon Mapper, and Climate TRACE, among others. The team proposed an architecture for a comprehensive methane monitoring platform. This system incorporates multi-source data acquisition, advanced data processing and assimilation, interactive visualization tools, and analytical capabilities for emissions forecasting and scenario analysis. The proposed platform aims to provide a user-friendly interface catering to various stakeholders, from researchers to policymakers. The architecture includes sophisticated data ingestion methods, a centralized data warehouse, and advanced analytical tools for data fusion and interpretation. To ensure the relevance and effectiveness of the proposed system, a comprehensive survey was conducted to gather stakeholder input on system requirements. Key findings include a strong need for integrating various data types and formats, a preference for real-time data updates and advanced visualization tools, and a demand for user-friendly interfaces catering to different expertise levels.
03 NATURAL GAS↗
SCOAPE-II: A 2024 Multiplatform Measurement Campaign off the US Gulf Coast to Assess Oil and Gas Emissions on the Outer Continental Shelf
Nine years ago, the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), the Agency with Air Quality (AQ) jurisdiction over the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) of the US Gulf Coast west of 87.5° W longitude, asked NASA to determine the feasibility of using satellite data to measure offshore emissions in a region of concentrated oil and natural gas (ONG) operations. To study this issue NASA and BOEM conducted the May 2019 Satellite Coastal and Oceanic Atmospheric Pollution Experiment (SCOAPE) cruise in the Gulf. SCOAPE addressed both technological and scientific issues related to measuring nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 , a common air pollutant), including contrasting near-shore and deepwater regimes. Given the April 2023 launch of the geostationary Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) AQ satellite, a 2024 SCOAPE-II was conducted in the Gulf with both ship and aircraft measurements. We present an overview of the SCOAPE-II campaign, analysis and validation of satellite-observed NO 2 , and evaluate measurements of methane from ship, aircraft, and satellite near ONG platforms. Our SCOAPE-II results are as follows: 1) Satellite NO 2 measurements (∼13:30 local time) from the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) are more accurate than TEMPO’s hourly scans (8.6% vs. 23.6% mean absolute bias); a new version of TEMPO data is currently being processed; 2) ship and aircraft measurements captured dozens of NO 2 and methane plumes from ONG operations, showing that they are persistent emitters; 3) satellite measurements of methane failed to replicate ship and aircraft measurements, presenting ongoing challenges for operational emissions monitoring over the Gulf.
satellite validation↗
Spatial mapping of dissolved methane using an in situ sensor in Puget Sound
Release of methane, as gas bubbles or in the dissolved phase, from the seafloor has been observed in coastal waters (< 200 m) and deep ocean basins (> 1000 m). Methane dissolution within the water column affects the geochemistry of the surrounding water, leading to localized oxygen loss and potential escape to the atmosphere, particularly from shallower sites. Traditional methods for detecting and quantifying dissolved methane rely on collecting discrete water samples for ship- or land-based ex situ analysis and post processing. Here, we report on the use of a reduced response time, in situ methane sensor, the Sensor for Aqueous Gases in the Environment (SAGE), for detecting and quantifying dissolved methane concentrations in a wide range of seafloor environments. During a Fall 2022 research cruise on the R/V Thomas G. Thompson in Puget Sound, SAGE was integrated onto a towed conductivity/temperature/depth rosette and deep-sea camera system with live-stream 1 Hz telemetry and used to spatially map the concentration of methane approximately 1 m above the seafloor. The site had been previously identified as an active methane plume field characterized by gas bubbles, fluid venting, and a faulted seabed. The widespread background dissolved concentration of methane measured by SAGE was 83 nM, and a range of 78–670 nM was observed throughout the survey. The results highlight the capacity of SAGE to map the spatial and temporal variability of dissolved methane concentrations in situ and to identify and localize sites of variable methane emissions from the seafloor.
Padilla, Alexandra M. [Woods Hole Oceanographic In↗