Mobile CH4 Measurement and Inversion & An Interactive Visualization Platform

Methane (CH₄) is one of the most potent greenhouse gases (GHGs) responsible for global climate warming. However, accurate identification of CH₄ sources and their quantification for preventing/reducing CH₄ emissions are hampered by insufficient accuracy and spatiotemporal coverage of CH₄ measurements. In the past year, we have been conducting mobile CH₄ measurements using the highly-accurate LI-COR 7810 surveying different areas/regions, including Pampa, TX and Oklahoma, with the guidance of real-time CH₄ forecasting. Using the mass balance method, we estimated CH₄ emission rates from a cattle farm and wastewater treatment facility based on the mobile measurement. An interactive website visualizing measured CH₄ concentration is also developed, which help trace back the CH₄ plumes and thus help CH₄ inversion. Our study demonstrated that such mobile measurement plus the interactive visualization platform can be used to develop CH₄ emission inventories over a limited region, which we plan to explore in the near future.