MethaneAIR: A High-Resolution Infrared Imaging Spectrometer for Airborne Measurements of CH4 and CO2
Jenna Samra, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, jsamra@cfa.harvard.edu (Presenter)
Jonathan E Franklin, Harvard University, jfranklin@g.harvard.edu
Bruce Daube, Harvard University, bdaube@g.harvard.edu
Peter Cheimets, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, pcheimets@cfa.harvard.edu
Scott Milligan, Headwall Photonics, smilligan@headwallphotonics.com
Martin H. Ettenberg, Princeton Infrared Technologies, martin.ettenberg@princetonirtech.com
Josh Benmergui, Harvard University, benmergui@fas.harvard.edu
Kelly Chance, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, kchance@cfa.harvard.edu
Apisada Chulakadabba, Harvard University, achulakadabba@seas.harvard.edu
Eamon Conway, Center for Astrophysics Harvard and Smithsonian, eamon.conway@cfa.harvard.edu
Xiong Liu, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, xliu@cfa.harvard.edu
Christopher Miller, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, cmiller@cfa.harvard.edu
Amir H. Souri, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, ahsouri@cfa.harvard.edu
Kang Sun, University at Buffalo, kangsun@buffalo.edu
Steven Wofsy, Harvard University, wofsy@g.harvard.edu
MethaneAIR is a new airborne hyperspectral sensor designed as a precursor to MethaneSAT, the small satellite of Methanesat LLC (a subsidiary of the Environmental Defense Fund) intended to revolutionize measurements and modeling of CH4 emissions across the globe. The airborne observations will facilitate the advances in spectroscopy and retrievals of atmospheric concentrations needed for MethaneSAT to precisely measure emissions. MethaneAIR by itself represents a major advance in the state of the art of airborne remote sensing of CH4 and CO2. In addition to validating measurements from MethaneSAT and other satellites, it has broad applications in atmospheric science, including studies of atmosphere-biosphere exchange, climate feedbacks to greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, primary pollution sources, sustainable cities, and more.
MethaneAIR measures total-column dry air mole fraction of CH4 and CO2 over a 23.7° swath at high spatial resolution (25 m x 5.8 m at 12 km altitude). Like MethaneSAT, it consists of a pair of pushbroom imaging spectrometers. One spectrometer measures CH4 and CO2 in the 1.6 micron absorption band, and the other measures O2 in the 1.27 micron singlet-delta band, which enables better aerosol and ground reflectance corrections than the O2 A-band. MethaneAIR provides high sensitivity, high spectral resolution (sufficient to resolve the airglow in the singlet-delta band), and very low spectral distortion in a small, low-cost package. During flight, the two spectrometers are mounted side by side in a single rack, isolated from aircraft vibration by wire isolators, and temperature-stabilized to better than 1 °C by a heated thermal enclosure. Sensor validation flights took place on the NSF/NCAR Gulfstream V in November 2019, followed by an extensive calibration effort in late 2019 and early 2020. Science flights in July 2021 will target regions of oil and gas production while resolving engineering issues encountered in the earlier flight campaign.
Poster: Poster_Samra__104_25.pdf
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 1.2a Results from current missions
Session Date: Monday (6/14) 9:45 AM