In situ spectrometric and chemical measurements of methane emissions from a natural marine hydrocarbon seep field, Coal Oil Point, California: Validation of methane remote sensing techniques

Remote sensing techniques can significantly improve our understanding of the sources and sinks of the important greenhouse gas methane. Field and laboratory studies used spectral and in-situ chemical measurements of geologic methane plumes from natural marine seepage and radiative-transfer calculations to test the feasibility of using NASA's Airborne Visual/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) for methane remote sensing of this marine source. Based on numerical MODTRAN simulations, the spectral region between 2200 and 2340 nm was chosen for its sensitivity to CH4 with mild sensitivity to water vapor interference. During one marine field study, an intense seep area was repeatedly transected by boat using flame ion detectors (FID) to characterize the methane plume along with detailed meteorological measurements. Based on a Gaussian plume dispersion model for 3 m/s wind speed, methane column-abundances were calculated and showed a plume with methane concentrations greater than 0.5 g/m2 extending downwind 70 m with a 20 m width, much larger than the 3 to 5 m AVIRIS pixel size. Most of the methane was in the lower 10 m. MODTRAN calculations showed this to be well above the noise equivalent detection level of AVIRIS. During a separate field study, FIDs at three heights above the sea surface (2.2, 3.6, and 5 m) measured methane concentrations as high as 200 ppm while transecting an active seep area. Simultaneous spectra were obtained with a field spectrometer. Several plumes were identified from the FID data and a clear relationship was shown between the presence of methane plumes along the incident path and the presence of methane absorption features in spectra. Methane absorption features above atmospheric background were not observed outside the plumes.