CU Boulder researchers and Colorado public agencies have partnered to create an automated emissions monitoring system that tracks methane and other harmful atmospheric gases to generate publically available data in near-real time.
The project, which is sponsored by and led by researchers from CU Boulder’s in partnership with the , is believed to be the first automated system of its kind in the Rocky Mountain region.
In recent years, Boulder County, Weld County and other areas of Colorado’s Front Range have recorded levels of methane and various other gases collectively known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that the concentrations seen in some urban industrial areas.
Researcher Detlev Helming talks about the new air qualityĚýmonitoring station and its public value.Ěý
Methane is a long-lasting greenhouse gas produced by a number of sources, including oil and natural gas extraction, agriculture and landfills. While the exact output level of each source is yet unknown, oil and natural gas production has doubled in Colorado’s Julesburg Basin since 2000.
The new equipment, which is located at Boulder Reservoir and has been operational since February, collects air samples on a 24/7 basis and measures concentrations of methane, nitrogen oxides and VOCs. The data that updates hourly, creating a valuable real-time resource for Boulder’s citizens and policymakers alike.
“The value of this approach for Boulder County is in creating data that is public and transparent,” said Detlev Helmig, an associate professor at INSTAAR and the lead investigator of the project.
The innovative system, which uses automated scripts to collect and post data publically, is believed to be a first in the Rocky Mountain region. CU Boulder researchers can operate the equipment remotely with infrequent maintenance, much as they would a satellite or a far-flung research station.
Overall, Helmig said, the goal is to improve the public’s awareness of air quality in its own backyard.
“We’d like to inform people about the composition of the atmosphere, the behavior of the atmosphere and the influence of different sources that contribute to these gases that we’re measuring,” said Helmig.
The monitoring effort is scheduled to continue for 18 months with the possibility of extending longer.
For more information and to view the data, visit the .
