Detecting Methane Gas Leaks and Other Pollutants Using Frequency Combs: A Q&A With Sammie Finalists
Cars. Cows. Oil and natural gas leaks. The list of what is polluting our atmosphere and contributing to global warming is long and varied. And if we want to solve this problem, being able to accurately measure what’s happening is key.
NIST is contributing to this critical measurement challenge in many ways. One approach being pursued uses a Nobel Prize-winning technology called a frequency comb, which is a very precise “ruler” for measuring exact colors of light. A group of NIST scientists have been adapting the frequency comb to make these crucial measurements. In 2018, they successfully demonstrated a way to use two frequency combs to continuously and cost-effectively monitor leaks of methane (CH4) and other trace gases with extreme precision and over large areas. In 2021, those researchers upgraded the instrument so that it could simultaneously measure three airborne greenhouse gases — nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide and water vapor — plus the major air pollutants ozone and carbon monoxide. This dual-comb technology could help in understanding and monitoring emissions of the heat-trapping greenhouse gases implicated in climate change, as well as in assessing urban air quality.
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