METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SCREENING AN AREA OF THE ATMOSPHERE FOR SOURCES OF EMISSIONS

摘要

A method for remotely screening a selected area of the atmosphere for the presence of emissions into the atmosphere comprises moving a mobile platform, such as an aircraft, which carries an atmospheric component sensor in a pattern over and in the vicinity of the selected area, measuring the concentration of a component of the atmosphere at one or more points along the pattern with the atmospheric component sensor to obtain concentration data, obtaining supplementary data, and using an inverse dispersion technique, that utilizes the concentration data with the supplementary data to detect and locate one or more sources of emissions, and to determine the emitted mass release rates and/or surface fluxes.