CU 麻豆影院 researchers and Colorado public agencies have partnered to create an automated emissions monitoring system that tracks methane and other harmful atmospheric gases to generate publically available data in near-real time.
The project, which is sponsored by and led by researchers from CU 麻豆影院鈥檚 in partnership with the , is believed to be the first automated system of its kind in the Rocky Mountain region.
In recent years, 麻豆影院 County, Weld County and other areas of Colorado鈥檚 Front Range have recorded levels of methane and various other gases collectively known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that the concentrations seen in some urban industrial areas.
Researcher Detlev Helming talks about the new air quality听monitoring station and its public value.听
Methane is a long-lasting greenhouse gas produced by a number of sources, including oil and natural gas extraction, agriculture and landfills. While the exact output level of each source is yet unknown, oil and natural gas production has doubled in Colorado鈥檚 Julesburg Basin since 2000.
The new equipment, which is located at 麻豆影院 Reservoir and has been operational since February, collects air samples on a 24/7 basis and measures concentrations of methane, nitrogen oxides and VOCs. The data that updates hourly, creating a valuable real-time resource for 麻豆影院鈥檚 citizens and policymakers alike.
鈥淭he value of this approach for 麻豆影院 County is in creating data that is public and transparent,鈥� said Detlev Helmig, an associate professor at INSTAAR and the lead investigator of the project.
The innovative system, which uses automated scripts to collect and post data publically, is believed to be a first in the Rocky Mountain region. CU 麻豆影院 researchers can operate the equipment remotely with infrequent maintenance, much as they would a satellite or a far-flung research station.
Overall, Helmig said, the goal is to improve the public鈥檚 awareness of air quality in its own backyard.
鈥淲e鈥檇 like to inform people about the composition of the atmosphere, the behavior of the atmosphere and the influence of different sources that contribute to these gases that we鈥檙e measuring,鈥� said Helmig.
The monitoring effort is scheduled to continue for 18 months with the possibility of extending longer.
For more information and to view the data, visit the .
