8 Undergraduate Students (Posters)

Monday, 13 March 2017
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Grand Ballroom CDE

APPLICATION OF AIRBORNE AND GROUND-BASED HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGING IN DETECTING METHANE

Paper number: 8-38
Program: Theme Sessions
Time: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Authors

Abstract

Methane (CH4) gas is colorless, odorless, and is an explosion hazard at concentrations of 5% to 15%. It is also a greenhouse gas that is much more potent than CO2. However, unlike other greenhouse gases, CH4 is a renewable energy source which is an economically valuable commodity. In addition, the recent discovery of traces of CH4 on Mars has revolutionized planetary studies. Many scientists now believe that CH4 could be used as an indicator of life on Mars and other planets. Therefore, there is a substantial need to remotely and accurately detect CH4.

This work employs hyperspectral remote sensing techniques to remotely detect methane on airborne and ground platforms. In particular, NASA’s Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) data of the massive Aliso Canyon gas leak near Porte Ranch, California, and ground-based Specim hyperspectral data of Atascosita landfill in Houston, Texas were obtained. The spectral signature of CH4 at around 2300 nm was identified and used for image classifications. Using band ratios and spectral angle mapper (SAM) techniques, CH4 was successfully detected in the AVIRIS and Specim data. Results indicate that conventional hyperspectral remote sensing techniques such as Spectral Angle Mapper are viable methods for detecting of CH4. This work provides an example of detecting CH4 by hyperspectral data, and envisions broader applications of remote sensing in agricultural, industrial monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions and hydrocarbon exploration.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 49, No. 1

doi: 10.1130/abs/2017SC-289206

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