Mapping of thermal power plant emitted atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration using AVIRIS-NG data and atmospheric radiative transfer model simulations

Abstract

Our study demonstrates the potential of Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer Next Generation (AVIRIS-NG) hyperspectral data and radiative transfer modeling to retrieve the atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration from point source emission of one of India’s major coal-fed super thermal power plants at Kota, Rajasthan, India. AVIRIS-NG data with synchronous in situ measurements were collected as a part of the first ISRO-NASA joint airborne hyperspectral science campaign in India. The method utilized in our study includes theoretical simulations of at-sensor radiance in AVIRIS-NG spectral bands through the atmospheric radiative transfer model MODTRAN. Simulations were performed for the specific scene-sensor-atmospheric conditions pertaining to AVIRIS-NG overpass over Kota site. To eliminate the interfering effect of atmospheric water vapor with CO2 concentrations, simulations pertaining to variable water vapor values varying from 0.25 to 4.5 g / cm2 were also carried out, which in turn were utilized to normalize the water vapor effects. Based upon the simulation results pertaining to the specific absorption bands of CO2 in the shortwave infrared spectral range of AVIRIS-NG radiance data, a theoretical model was established between continuum interpolated band ratio (CIBR) and CO2 concentration. The CIBR − CO2 model coefficients for each of the water vapor subranges were then applied to AVIRIS-NG L1 radiance data to obtain the CO2 concentration map of the study area. A distinct CO2 plume could be detected from the coal-fed Kota Super Thermal Power Station with the CO2 concentration (XCO2) of the order of more than 500 ppmv near the power plant stacks. A range of XCO2 from 400 to 550 ppmv was observed within the scene. Our study has provided promising results in mapping the atmospheric CO2 content from the point source using the high-resolution airborne hyperspectral AVIRIS-NG data.