Application of Cavity-Ring-Down-Spectroscopy to Measure Local and Regional Methane Fugitive Emissions.

Abstract

Rising concerns about the direct and indirect role of fugitive emissions on Earth’s climate and their contributions to Carbon/Methane cycles has led to the need for improved and expanded measurement capabilities of critical greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. In this work, a high precision Cavity-Ring-Down Spectroscopic Technique (CRDS) is used to simultaneously and continuous measure carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), carbon monoxide (CO), and water vapor (H2O) in ambient air. High accuracy of the measurements is established by reference to calibration using standard reference gases. The precision and accuracy of the analyzer meet and exceed the compatibility targets set by the World Meteorological Organization–Global Atmosphere Watch for baseline measurements in the unpolluted troposphere for CO2 CO, and CH4 in the Northern Hemisphere. Preliminary results of indoor and outside ambient air measurements at Tennessee Tech University are presented as a testbed for deploying the CRDS analyzer in the field to detect and measure CH4 fugitive emissions in various locations within Putnam County.