Lidar-based gas analyzer for remote sensing of atmospheric methane

• Main Authors: Meshcherinov, Viacheslav, Kazakov, Viktor, Spiridonov, Maxim, Suvorov, Gennady, Rodin, Alexander
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 23-04-2024
• Subjects: Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2404.15464

Enhancement of methane emission measurement techniques is necessary to
address the need for greenhouse gas emissions monitoring. Here we introduce a
gas analyzer designed for remote sensing of atmospheric methane aboard unmanned
aerial vehicles. This device employs the wavelength modulation spectroscopy
approach and quadrature detection of laser radiation scattered from the
underlying surface. Our results demonstrate that the observed correlation
between various signal attributes and the distance to the surface, where laser
radiation scatters, aligns with analytical expectations. Calibrations proved
that the instrument provides reliable methane measurements up to 120 meters
while being lightweight and power efficient. Notably, this device outperforms
its competitors at altitudes exceeding 50 meters, which is safer for piloting.