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Mapping ammonia emission plumes using shortwave infrared imaging spectroscopy

Nicholas Balasus, Daniel H. Cusworth, Jinsol Kim, Daniel J. Varon, Charles E. Miller, Riley M. Duren

Abstract

Atmospheric ammonia emissions are harmful to ecosystems and human health. These emissions have traditionally been monitored using thermal infrared spectrometers, though such techniques are limited by thermal contrast requirements, the coarse spatial resolution of existing satellite sensors, and low measurement frequency of higher-resolution aerial surveys. Here, we show that ammonia emissions can be quantified using shortwave infrared imaging spectroscopy, circumventing these challenges by using reflected sunlight instead of thermal emission for signal and by enabling a large class of existing and future imaging spectrometers to enter the ammonia observing system. As a proof of concept for this newly discovered capability, we use Tanager-1 satellite data to quantify emissions from industrial point sources of ammonia in Pakistan and Uzbekistan.

Mapping ammonia emission plumes using shortwave infrared imaging spectroscopy

Abstract

Atmospheric ammonia emissions are harmful to ecosystems and human health. These emissions have traditionally been monitored using thermal infrared spectrometers, though such techniques are limited by thermal contrast requirements, the coarse spatial resolution of existing satellite sensors, and low measurement frequency of higher-resolution aerial surveys. Here, we show that ammonia emissions can be quantified using shortwave infrared imaging spectroscopy, circumventing these challenges by using reflected sunlight instead of thermal emission for signal and by enabling a large class of existing and future imaging spectrometers to enter the ammonia observing system. As a proof of concept for this newly discovered capability, we use Tanager-1 satellite data to quantify emissions from industrial point sources of ammonia in Pakistan and Uzbekistan.
Paper Structure (4 sections, 3 equations, 2 figures)

This paper contains 4 sections, 3 equations, 2 figures.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Methods
  3. Results and Discussion
  4. Acknowledgments

Figures (2)

  • Figure 1: Unit absorption spectra for ammonia, methane, carbon dioxide, and water for 1400--2500 nm. The spectra depict the relative change in the at-sensor radiance per unit change in a path-length enhancement of the given gas for the Tanager-1 sensor. Values are scaled by $10^5$ for visualization.
  • Figure 2: Ammonia emissions from industrial sources in Pakistan and Uzbekistan mapped using shortwave infrared radiance data from Tanager-1. The winds and the inferred emission rates are inset and ammonia vertical column enhancements are shown. The background imagery is from Esri World Imagery.