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Aircraft-Based Measurements of the Carbon Footprint of Indianapolis 

Literature Reference
Peer Reviewed Literature
Authors

Kelly L. Mays, Paul B. Shepson, Brian H. Stirm, Anna Karion, Colm Sweeney, Kevin R. Gurney

Presented at

Environmental Science Technology 10.1021/es901326b 

http://www.chem.purdue.edu/Shepson/Paper/Mays%202009.pdf

Abstract

The quantification of greenhouse gas emissions requireshigh precision measurements made with high spatial resolution.Here we describe measurements of carbon dioxide (CO2)and methane(CH4) conducted using Purdue University’s AirborneLaboratory for Atmospheric Research (ALAR), aimed at thequantification of the “footprints” for these greenhouse gasesfor Indianapolis, IN. A cavity ring-down spectrometer measuredatmospheric concentrations, and flask samples were obtainedat various points for comparison. Coupled with pressure,temperature, and model-derived horizontal winds, thesemeasurements allow for flux estimation. Long horizontaltransects were flown perpendicular to the wind downwind ofthe city. Emissions were calculated using the wind speedand the difference between the concentration in the plumeand the background concentration. A kriging method is appliedto interpolate the measured values to a vertical plane tracedout by the flight pattern within the mixed layer. Results show theurban plume is clearly distinguishable in the downwindconcentrations for most flights. Additionally, there is largevariability in the measured day-to-day emissions fluxes as wellas in the relative CH4 and CO2 fluxes. Uncertainties in themethod are discussed, andits potential utilityin determiningsectorbased emission factors is shown.