Quantifying NOx Emissions in the Colorado Front Range during AMMBEC

Emissions of nitrogen oxides (NO_x = NO + NO₂) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from oil and natural gas (O&G) production as well as agricultural, industrial, and urban activities contribute to the formation of ozone (O₃) and particulate matter in the Colorado Front Range. Improved characterization of these emissions and their sources is needed to assess impacts on regional air quality and greenhouse gas emissions. The University of Colorado Airborne Multi-AXis Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (CU AMAX-DOAS) instrument was deployed on the NOAA Twin Otter aircraft as part of the Airborne Methane Mass Balance Emissions in Colorado (AMMBEC) campaign over the Denver Julesburg basin (DJB) and wider Denver Metropolitan Area (DMA). A total of 22 research flights were conducted from June 28 to July 13, 2024. The CU AMAX-DOAS was co-deployed with a NOAA Doppler lidar and in-situ measurements, allowing for quantification of NO_x and methane emissions by mass balance and exploration of remote sensing and in-situ synergies. Spatially resolved NO₂ and HCHO column and surface albedo measurements provide insight on O­₃ photochemistry sensitivities and the opportunity for evaluation of data products from the recently launched Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) instrument.