Imaging of SO2 emissions from anthropogenic sources as part of AROMAT campaign

Abstract:

This study presents field campaign measurements of SO₂ emissions from pollution source in Romania. Three types of instruments (SO₂ camera, whisk and push broom imager) proceeded ground-based and airborne data acquisition as part of the AROMAT ESA project (monitoring of SO₂ plume from a large thermoelectric plant). The SO₂ camera used is an imaging system composed of two UV cameras (synchronised in space and time) allowing fast acquisitions of intensity. Each camera is equipped with the same lens and a specific narrow band-pass filter (one at the wavelength at which SO₂ absorbs and one at an off-band wavelength). The combination of two UV cameras provides a 2D image of the integrated content of SO₂. The Small Whisk broom Imager for trace gases monitoriNG (SWING) used in this study and developed at the Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA), is based on a compact ultra-violet visible spectrometer and a scanning mirror. The Airborne imaging instrument for Measurements of Atmospheric Pollution (AirMAP) constructed at the Institute of Environmental Physics of the University of Bremen (IUP), performed SO₂ measurements in the UV-visible spectral range. Both whisk and push broom scanner use the DOAS technique, that is based on the relationship between the quantity of light absorbed and the number of SO₂ molecules in the light path. SWING and AirMAP instruments provide scans of SO₂ column density. Quantification of 2D field contents and fluxes of anthropogenic SO₂ emissions from Turceni power station (Romania) are shown. Preparatory results from data acquisition in the harbour of Antwerp (monitoring of SO₂ emissions from refinery and chemical industry) are also presented.