Journal article
Using airborne technology to quantify and apportion emissions of CH4 and NH3 from feedlots
Jorg M Hacker, Deli Chen, Mei Bai, Caecilia Ewenz, Wolfgang Junkermann, Wolfgang Lieff, Barry McManus, Bruno Neininger, Jianlei Sun, Trevor Coates, Tom Denmead, Thomas Flesch, Sean McGinn, Julian Hill
ANIMAL PRODUCTION SCIENCE | CSIRO PUBLISHING | Published : 2016
DOI: 10.1071/AN15513
Abstract
A novel airborne approach using the latest technology in concentration measurements of methane (CH4) and ammonia (NH3), with quantum cascade laser gas analysers (QCLAs) and high-resolution wind, turbulence and other atmospheric parameters integrated into a low- and slow-flying modern airborne platform, was tested at a 17000 head feedlot near Charlton, Victoria, Australia, in early 2015. Aircraft flights on 7 days aimed to define the lateral and vertical dimensions of the gas plume above and downwind of the feedlot and the gas concentrations within the plume, allowing emission rates of the target gases to be calculated. The airborne methodology, in the first instance, allowed the emissions to..
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Funding Acknowledgements
The overall study was funded by the CSIRO Methane Cluster Program and the Meat and Livestock Australia. The purchase of the QCLAs and ancillary units was funded by an ARC LIEF grant (Australian Research Council - Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment & Facilities). One of the research aircraft was donated by the late Ms Joyce Schultz of Glen Osmond, South Australia. The project team thanks Simon Hackett of Adelaide to make his Pilatus PC12 aircraft available to overcome a technical issue with one of the research aircraft and Ms Shakti Chakravarty to arrange all logistics issues around the aircraft, as well as Buloke Council for letting us use the Charlton airstrip.