Feel free to contact us with any questions or for updates as development continues.
]]>The prototype CMS will use satellite data to derive GHG emissions and trends from sources around the Ports. The BRI has identified many of these sources over our years of surveying the Port with SISTER, our mobile air quality laboratory. SISTER (Standard Instrumentation Suite: Truck Enabled for Response) measures meteorology, including 3D winds and a range of trace gasses while under motion at up to highway speeds. SISTER will collect in situ (ground-based data) for this study.
The Aerospace Corporation and their airborne remote sensing tool, Mako, are also involved in this project. Mako will collect longwave infrared imaging spectrometry remote sensing data, which (along with SISTER’s data) will be used to validate the satellite findings.
The Ports CMS focuses on The Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, the Ports, and surrounding heavy industry, including refineries, coke production, wastewater treatment, etc., all contributing GHG emissions. The Ports are the largest in the western hemisphere and the largest air pollution source in LA, providing an ideal model Ports CMS for application to other ports nationwide.
This project will provide data on how GHG emissions from the ports affect surrounding areas and the potential benefits to glean from port electrification. The Port CMS will provide a baseline to reference the efficacy of reducing carbon emissions of (already-funded) Port electrification and other policies, including green shipping corridors. A report produced by ABS will provide the regulatory rationale for Port and shipping GHG initiatives, such as green corridors. This report will show the community connection to port decarbonization and be positioned as an industry-standard reference document. The BRI team is excited to implement this study with NASA and looks forward to sharing our findings with the community!
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Article Highlights
- Mobile air quality surveyed the Los Angeles & Long Beach Ports during covid19.
- Surveys, air quality station and satellite data found dramatic covid19 NO2 decreases.
- Recovery to normal pollution levels was slow – multiyear.
- Ozone increased during covid19, indicating VOH-limited ozone formation.
BRI installs Meteo-Trailer at the Cal Poly Research Dairy, then SISTER surveys dairy meteorology
Meteo-Trailer 1 measures winds at 10 meters – high enough to characterize the overall dairy wind flow and was sited near the overflow wastewater lagoon. Other meteorology parameters include humidity, solar insolation, and temperature. One advantage of Meteo Trailer 1’s is its relocatability, e.g., to characterize meteorology at different locations around the dairy. For example, windflows follow the terrain north of the main dairy barn, which slopes upwards to a small, raised mesa, ~20 m above the lagoons. The terrain’s structure can cause complexity in the wind flows around the dairy. For example, winds at the sub-dairy scale are complicated by the high (~4 m) dirt berm (an earth mound that diverts winds) immediately south of the lagoons and the higher (~3-4 m) elevation of the corrals above the lagoons. Additionally, the lagoons’ cold water (relative to the dairy’s bare earth) causes air subsidence (descending motion), which by continuity is complemented by rising air elsewhere and usually nearby.
Map shows Los Angeles, CA area and location of the California Polytechnic State University location (red marker).
This complexity is evident in SISTER data collected recently at the research dairy, with clear evidence of wind convergence and divergence (in 2D winds). SISTER (Standard Instrumentation Suite: Truck Enabled for Response) measures meteorology, including 3D winds and a range of trace gasses while under motion at up to highway speeds. (Note, dairy surveys are at speeds of a few meters per second or less.) Wind convergence and divergence imply there is strong three-dimensionality in dairy winds. Additional complication arises from strong diurnal cycles, including large, dramatic wind shifts. For example, even during this short (~1 hr) visit, winds shifted from southerly to north-northwesterly while SISTER was on the berm.
b-facility (to a few meters); however, only for the time it is onsite. Thus, SISTER misses the rest of the diurnal cycle – patterns that Meteo Trailer 1 captures. An example short dataset spanning two days clearly shows the meteorology diurnal cycles (see figure below). Although there is an overall strengthening pressure trend, there also are diurnal cycles modulating this rise (higher pressure at noon and midnight). Winds are mostly from the north-northwest to north, dying down significantly at night. Wind direction can veer significantly in the few hours after dawn and late at night when they are generally very weak. These days were overcast, and thus, the solar radiation was significantly lower than on a sunny day. On one day, the nighttime humidity reached saturation, while on the second day, it did not. Unsurprisingly, humidity follows an inverse trend to temperature, which was coolest around dawn and warmest at noon on these overcast days.
The CDFA study will measure the climate/environmental emissions footprint of improved manure management practices. Livestock are an important contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). These emissions arise directly from digestion (enteric fermentation) and indirectly from manure. Climate also plays a role in these emissions – warmer temperatures increase indirect and direct emissions. For instance, a beef cow in a temperate climate may emit around 240 grams per day, whereas a beef cow in a tropical climate could emit approximately 350 grams per day. Other differences result from food type, animal activity levels, and lactation stage, among others – and these all may influence each other! Overall, climate has positive feedback on emissions.
The CDFA study will create a dairy baseline (for California) of trace gas emissions including GHGs and criteria pollutants collected by SISTER, airborne remote sensing, and data mining the team’s extensive data archives. The dataset is supported by wastewater, manure, solids, soil, and farm operations characterizations and will provide a basis to assess the CARB Benefits and co-Benefits Calculator Tool. The evaluation in the project will be based on a statistically significant number of (anonymized and aggregated) dairies, with and without an Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP) and/or a Dairy Digester Research & Development Program (DDRDP). Studied dairies will span California’s diverse dairies’ climates and seasons for various CDFA-promoted dairy waste management practices at large and small dairies.
Oblique view of the Cal Poly Dairy and wind speed (u), lines show direction where wind is flowing; the length and color show speed. Displayed in the Google Earth environment.
Oblique view of the Cal Poly Dairy and wind speed (u), lines show direction where wind is flowing; the length and color show speed. Displayed in the Google Earth environment.
Humidity around the Cal Poly Dairy. Low humidity is dark blue, high humidity is red (69-73%) .
Temperature around the Cal Poly Dairy. Low temperature is dark blue, high temperature is red (16.6-17.5 Celsius).
SISTER2 at Cal Poly Diary.
Bubbleology’s mobile air quality laboratory, SISTER2, is conducting several large field campaigns this summer for NSF, NASA, and CEC in California and other neighboring states (TBD). SISTER2 is an air quality laboratory in a 1-ton box, available for advanced gas leak detection and assessment. SISTER2 deploys by a pickup truck, boat, or trailer and measures 14 gases, aerosols, and meteorology at up to highway speed. SISTER2 also features real-time visualization that informs how the BRI team drives SISTER2 – slowing down in areas of interest and redirecting to follow the emissions.
SISTER2 at SJV Midway Sunset Chevron Oil Field.
The SISTER2 summer field campaigns are coordinating efforts with Aeromma, AGES, SARP, and the JPL/JAXA RailRoad Valley, NV vicarious calibration campaign. BRI plans to enhance the science of these studies with SISTER2’s unique capabilities and measurments. Explore more about the campaigns and collaborating agencies below!
Field schedule coming soon.
]]>*authors: Ira Leifer, Christopher Melton, William J. Daniel, David M. Tratt, Patrick D. Johnson, Kerry N. Buckland, Jae Deok Kim, and Charlotte Marston
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ALL BELOW MATERIALS AVAILABLE FOR MEDIA USE:
*news item will be updated with more details in the SeaSpires package soon
The approach describes a method to estimate floating oil slick thickness based on thermal infrared contrast remote sensing using data collected by the SeaSpiresTM science package using an in-scene calibration. SeaSpires combines thermal infrared and visible video remote sensing imagery with position and orientation data for airborne deployments. For boat deployments, SeaSpires includes meteorology data. The approach was demonstrated for airborne data collected from natural seeps in the Coal Oil Point seep field, offshore southern California. Remote sensing data were acquired in the cross-slick direction of oil slick segments that were targeted for collection, termed “Collects.” Collects consisted of booming, skimming, and off-loading the oil slick segment into buckets for analysis at the laboratory. Each collect provided an in-scene calibration of oil thickness with respect to brightness temperature contrast and is a planned oil-release experiment run in reverse. Brightness temperature contrast was the brightness temperature difference between the oil and oil-free sea surface.
]]>BRI successfully tested this detection capability in Bakersfield, CA on emissions from active and abandoned oil wells during the Business Insider shoot. It’s challenging to detect emissions from abandoned oil wells since most of these emissions don’t have any smell or color. SISTER2’s extreme sensitivity allowed the detection of these weak gas emissions on the field survey. Many of these oil wells can leak gases into communities and the atmosphere unnoticed for many years – which is bad for human health and the environment.
In addition to all SISTER2’s surveys for BRI research, SISTER2 also joined the Aerospace Corporation’s airborne remote sensing efforts to characterize oil field methane plumes. This study will soon be released in Society for Petroleum Engineers: Production & Operations. The best way to keep up with SISTER2 operations is by visiting the BRI Twitter where we tweet out the latest surveys, updates to the vehicle, and SISTER2 news!
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Inside SISTER2, the Business Insider videographer captures SISTER2’s real-time visualization process,
This January, BRI successfully tested this detection capability in Bakersfield, CA, while filming a video about abandoned oil wells with Business Insider. It’s challenging to detect emissions from abandoned oil wells since most of these emissions don’t have any smell or color. Many of these oil wells can leak gases into communities and the atmosphere unnoticed for many years – which is terrible for human health and the environment.
Abandoned oil wells and gas leaks can be discovered during downwind surveys that transect plume(s) of escaping and drifting hydrocarbon gases. Methane, the main component of natural gas, and other hydrocarbon gases were detected by SISTER2’s extremely sensitive gas analyzers and visualized in near real-time. Real-time visualization informs how the BRI team drives SISTER2 – slowing down in areas of interest and redirecting to follow the emissions. During the test survey in Bakersfield, SISTER2 detected a range of trace gasses from both active and abandoned oil wells.
High-quality emission surveys of oil fields help scientists better understand the processes behind leaks and oil wells. This information can help improve oil and gas maintenance cycles and even protect companies’ profits since those companies cannot sell leaked gas. Also, some of the hydrocarbons emitted from abandoned oil wells or leaks can be a health concern in concentrations for surrounding communities and industry workers. For example, benzene is a petroleum hydrocarbon found in crude oil and natural gas. It is associated with cancers such as leukemia and other poor health outcomes.
Read more about orphan wells and see a map of orphan wells nationwide:
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