The primary commercial application targeted by this proposal is natural gas pipeline monitoring. The landscape of Federal regulations in this area is rapidly changing, and the energy industry is highly motivated to move quickly and efficiently towards compliance. Demand for surveillance systems outstrips the services currently available. Based on results from Phase I, the DAGR sensor is superior to state-of-the-art remote detection systems now in operation, and will help meet this demand. A second commercial application for DAGR is ground-based monitoring of CO2 in sequestration fields. Using current technology, CO2 can be stored in depleted oil and natural gas fields, saline reservoirs and basalt formations. Geologic storage of CO2 can account for over half of the emission reduction needed to achieve atmospheric stabilization. With only minor modifications, the DAGR design could be adapted to sense boundary layer CO2 using backscattered sunlight. Tower-based DAGR sensors would be used for monitoring the ambient level of CO2 at and around the sequestration site during preparation, injection, decommissioning, and finally for long-term monitoring.
The DAGR technology proposed here will directly demonstrate high sensitivity remote sensing of CH¬4 in the boundary layer. With minor adaptations, DAGR could provide simultaneous measurements of additional trace gases such as CO, N2O and SO2. These capabilities are of direct relevance to three NASA Decadal Survey missions: ASCENDS, GEOCAPE and GACM. In order to separate physiological carbon fluxes from biomass burning and fossil fuel use, ASCENDS must simultaneously measure boundary layer CO2 and additional tracers, ideally CO and CH4. Observations of CO at 4.7 μm are primarily sensitive to the mid-troposphere, but observations at 2.3 μm are needed to extend sensitivity to the surface. A DAGR instrument can provide high precision measurements of both CH4 and CO at 2.3 μm. GEOCAPE and GACM will focus on the carbon cycle, regional air quality, and long-range transport of pollution. Measurements from a DAGR sensor are directly relevant to these goals. Mr. Gordley has been consulting with NASA investigators on the GEOCAPE mission to help advance the technology needed for this mission. Developing a DAGR prototype would be an important step in this direction.
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