Photogrammetric and densitometric examination of ERTS-1 MSS imagery of Eastern Virginia coupled with extensive ground truth air quality and meteorological data has shown that the identification and surveying of fixed particulate emitters (smoke plumes) is feasible. A description of the ground truth network is included. The quantitative monitoring of smoke stacks from orbital altitudes over state size regions appears possible when tied to realistic plume models and minimal ground truth. Contrast reductions over urban areas can possibly be utilized to produce isopleths of particulates when supplemented by local measurements

Blais, R. N.

Brandy, A. R.

Copeland, G. E.

Hilton, G. M.

Kindle, E. C.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

Paper E 5 
REMOTE DETECTION OF AEROSOL POLLUTION BY ERTS 
G. E. Copeland, A. R. Bandy, E. C. Kindle, R. N. Blais and G. M.  Hilton, 
UepaRm~nt of Geophysical Sciences, Old Dominion Un;versity, Norfolk, Virginia 23508 
ABSTRACT 
Pnotogranmetiric and densitometric examination of ERTS-1 
MSS imagery of Eastern Virginia coupled with extensive ground 
truth air qual i ty  and meteorological data has shown tha t  the 
identification and surveying of fixed part iculate  emitters 
(smoke plumes) is feasible.  A description of the ground truth 
network is incluied. The quantitative monitoring of saoke 
stacks f r a  orbi ta l  a l t i tudes over s t a t e  s ize  regions appears 
possible when t i ed  t o  r e a l i s t i c  plume aodels and minimal 
ground t ru th  Contrast reductions over urk m areas can 
possibly be u t i l i zed  t c  produce isopleths of par t iculates  
when supplemented by loca l  measurements. 
Reasonably cloud f ree  m S - 1  X5S imagery has beem obtained of 
Eastern Virginia since launch. To date  imagery has been examined 
both f o r  detailed atmospheric phen0mer.a including contrails,  urban 
f i r e s  a?d smoke plumes of f-d emission sources, and f o r  area-wide 
m s o l  loading dea.L tj- izizgz c3ztrrstJ r d l ~ a t . i m .  The deve10~- 
nent of the method by which HtTS imagery can be applied to assessment 
of p a r t i d a t e  cmcentrationa is progressing rapidly. 
11. DATA SOURCES 
Data sources can be subdivided f o r  discuasim purposes intc 
those for  which data  i s  d i rec t ly  avsilable t o  the investigators and 
those f o r  which data must be generated by the investigators. 
Data sources fmwhich information is  directly available incrude 
the emission inventory cud ambient a i r  qual i ty  lwaitoriag progrolr of the 
Virginia State A i r  Po l lu t lm  Control Board (VSUCB), 1oc.l meteorologicrl 
stations, urban fire cbparWats  curd the FAA Ur TmffL Control Wiee 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19730019537 2020-03-17T08:43:00+00:00Z
a t  local airports.  VSAPCB emission inventory (par t ia i  l i s t i n g  in 
Figure 1 )  has been bir~cLLy maae avaiiaLia ti, iia so that ::c h2ve 2 
complete l i s t i n g  of all maior indus t r ia l  ar.d governmental aerosol 
fixed mission sources i n  the area, together with an estimate of the 
q u ~ n t i t y  and quality of the effluent.  The regular a i r  qual i ty  monitoring 
of the VSAPCB also yields periodic i n fona t ion  on concentrations of 
particulates and SO2 a t  numerous s i t e s  (cf. Figure 2 )  in the t e s t  
region, as well as  continuous NO, NOx, 03, CO, and coefficient of haze 
(COH) and meteorological information a t  certain selected s i t e s .  Further 
meteorological information is received from the numerous weather 
s ta t ions (cf. Figure 3) tha t  abound in the area because of tine l s g e  
number of naval instal la t ions.  Aerosol plumes tha t  are  not predict- 
able in iocation or  character include those of urban and rural f i r e s ,  
and thus, f i r e s  in progress a t  the time of the s a t e l l i t e  pass a re  
reported t o  us by loca l  f i r e  departments. In addition, the pat tern 
of contrai ls  over the area a t  the time of each pass has t o  be verified 
by finding the location, direction, and a l t i tude  o f . a l l  airplanes in 
the area capable of producing one. 
hfonnation generated by the investigators as  ground t ru th  
cor re la t im t o  the ERE5 imagery includes much oblique and some a e r i a l  
photography of selected snoke p h e s ,  plus the data gathered and 
a~a lyzed  by three well -equipped laboratory f a c i l i t i e s  a t  01 d 
ikmkriion University: an air pollution monitoring laboratory, a 
~riobile air pollution and meteorological monitoring van, and an air 
p l l u t i o n  standards laboratory f o r  the calibration of instnnnents 
a~ analysis of samples fran the other two laboratories. 
Photographic studies of par t icular  smoke plumes are an essent ial  
portion of a ground t ru th  program because they yield high resolution 
information, a re  subject t o  a large variety of photometric analysis 
techniques, and are relat ively inexpensive. Typical photographs 
used by us in the past include NASA U-2 photos of the area, s e r i a l  
Motes from a loca l  radio s ta t ion  weather helicopter, and photos 
taken by us from tall buildings during s q t e l l i t e  passes. The U-2 
high a l t i tude  photos show in higher resolution t h d  ERTS imagery the 
spectral signature and dispersal of specific plumes under varying met- - 
eorological, seasonal and background conditions. Lower a l t i tude  a e r i a l  
photos have been made by the helicopter of l oca l  radio s tat ion W - A H  
dwing i t s  twice daily t r a f f i c  report f l igh ts .  F i n d l y ,  we have made 
horizon photos fran the mo2s of tal l  buildings using both y e w a z  and 
telephoto lenses, and on occasion using f i l t e r s  t ha t  match the band 
passes of EiTS WS bards 4, 5, and 6. 
The first of our three f a c i l i t i e s  a t  Old Dosainian University devoted 
exclusively t o  a i r  pollution stales is an air maaitorbag labcratory 
tha t  is  designated an official moni tor ing station oP the  VSIPCB, but 
that goes well beyad the  iastnmmtattcm requkad for that task. The 
following instrm(~~ta are currently kr use for -.a rir quolityt 
a continuous chemilunenescent ozone (03) and nitrogen oxide (NO, NO , 
N4;) monitorj a continuous flame photometric sulfur compound (H2S, 3%) 
analyzer; a continuous -flame ionization methane and t o t a l  non-methane 
hydrocarbon analyzer; a twenty-four hour integration time SO2 babbler 
t ra in ;  four high volume a i r  samplers; and a tdo hour integration time 
coefficient of haze tape sampler. These instruments, sampling off a 
fo r ty  foot glass intake manifold provide i n f ~ m a t i o n  tha t  i s  correlated 
t o  local  meteorological variations. Such variations a re  monitored on 
the s i t e  by weather instruments mounted on a seventy foot tower 
giving continuous readings on analog recording devices of Kind speed 
and direction, temperature, insolation, re lat ive humidity, and a i r  
pressure. 
The Mobile A i r  Po l lu t iw Laboratory is  similarly equipped t c  
monitor air qual i ty  and meteorological data  a t  specific t e s t  s i t e s ,  
such as Wallops Island and Great D i s n a l  Swamp, where month-long studies 
are scheduled f o r  sunnner, 1973. This 8 '  x 18' t r a i l e r  on tandem 
wheels can col lect  data  with the following f ac i l i t i e s :  continuous 
monitors f o r  ambient levels of 03, NO, N02, NH S02, H2S, methane and 
to t a l  hydrocarbon; continuous temperature, vind'speed and direction 
monitors a t  four al t i tudes to  fo r ty  meters; ground leve l  moni%ors of 
hunidity, barometric pressure ard insolation; suspended part iculate  
monitors including n i l l ipore  f i l t e r s ,  high volume a i r  samplers, ar,d 
a single band nepthelorneter; and PDPD Digital  Acquisition *stem 
with teietype and magnetic tape uni t s  f o r  i n s t m e n t a l  control of the 
ent i re  monitori.lg operation, and data mznipulation and storage. 
Both the mobile and fixed laboratory a re  supported by the  A i r  
Quality btandards Laboratory, which t:alibrates all instruments. 
Fac i l i t i es  include an isothermal gaseous penneation tube f o r  providing 
metered flows of pollutants a t  known concentration levele  f o r  cal ibrat-  
ion of instruments, and devices f! r generating pure sanples of each 
pollutant; milligram pan balances, microscopes, dessicators and ovens. 
Finally, elemental analysis of air f i l t e r  samples can be done loca l ly  
try x-ray fluorescence and x-ray diffraction, and additionally neutron 
activation analysis can be done using f a c i l i t i e s  at Virginia Polytechnic 
Institute.  
Large amplitude high frequency var iab i l i ty  of aerosols presents 
a serious problem which is beyond conventiontl economic resources 
for infonwtion sensing and processing. It has been concluded tha t  the 
only hope fo r  an adequate definition of pollution concentration would 
be through a judicious integration of the following four  xneaswem~ent, 
analysis and diagnostic approaches. 
a. Conventional direct sensing system, which would provide a 
quantitati .  e input. ( A i r  quality and meteorological data) 
b. Renrote i.na&# capabi l i t ies  fraD -raft ead KIiTS type satellite8 
to provide the character of spatial resaluthi of the .sro8olr. 
c.  Numerical models, which combine the above and provide high 
temporal resolutian. 
d. LQ~'IJV& understanding of the constituents, t h e i r  sources 
and interaction processes, which provide the basis  f o r  inproved 
application of a l l  the above. 
In pursuit  of approaches a, b, ar~d c above the ground t ru th  system 
has been develoaed, ERTS imagery has been analyzed and s t a r t s  made 
or. adopting numerical models f o r  plume behanu? so tha t  the ERTS 
iinagery may be quantified and the human intake leve l  of azrosois aeter- 
mined. Smoke plumes ganerated bx f o s s i l  fue l  e lec t r ica l  plants are  
regularly detected. Numerous snal ler  indcs t r ia l  emission sourr,es have 
bezn discovered and reported t o  VSAPCB. Contrails and urban f i r e s  have 
been detected. Detailed analysis of the character is t ic  plume geometries 
is  being accomplished from RITS imagery. 
Computation of atmospheric diffusion c o e f f i c i ~ ? t s  from photometric 
&.ysis of ERTS imagery appears qui te  possible. This can be incorpor- 
ated i n to  nmerical  models t o  assess surface concent-ations which will 
be verified by the  mabile laboratory. This program can be solved 
backwards t o  provide esvmates o; stack emission r a t e s  and th.s 
provide a great cost reduction h. stack monitoring. 
Figure & shows a drawing of a se r ies  of three p1w.e~ a s  abserved 
02 23 Se?tnbar, 7 973. Each Is over 10 kilometers long. A densi- 
m.e t r ic  scar, p - . , zpdcu la r  t o  the  plumes symmetry axis i s  shown in 
Figure 5 . Although f i n a l  analysis df imagery tad ground t ru th  is  not 
ye t  accamplished, t h i s  plume (c) appears t o  closely follow standard 
Gaussian U f u s i o a  models. it is recognized t h a t  image spread may 
produce problems but  t h i s  can be solv+ by examination of high contrast 
subjacts and/or Ly incorporation of s] read ef fec ts  in plume models. 

SCAN 

NOAA 
Tide Data 
VSAPCB 
Air Quality 
Data 
I 
NASA-U-2 Imagery 
Local Aerial Photography 
VSAPCB, ODU, etc. 
VSAPCB Emission 
Oblique / .  
Investigations 
Island G r a n t  
Radar Images 
ODU Standards 
'I---, ~a5ora  t ory 
Figure 6 t Datv h p r t  Sources t o  Earth Iteeourceo Analyeie Laboratory ( O W ) .  


Remote detection of aerosol pollution by ERTS

The author has identified the following significant results. Photogrammetric and densitometric examination of ERTS-1 MSS imagery of eastern Virginia coupled with extensive ground truth air quality and meteorological data has shown that the identification and surveying of fixed particulate emitters (smoke plumes) is feasible. A description of the ground truth network is included. The quantitative monitoring of smoke stacks from orbital altitudes over state-size regions appears possible when tied to realistic plume models and minimal ground truth. Contrast reductions over urban areas can possibly be utilized to produce isopleths of particulates when supplemented by local measurements

Bandy, A. R.

"Made available under NASA sponsorship
in the interest of t.4inrd wide dis-
seminatioln of Earth Resources Survey
Program iniormati.;i and without liability
for any use made thereo. ."
E 7.3 1 0.4 1.
C"R.,~ l ao
9.
?
1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catalog No.
4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date
REMOTE DETECTION OF AEROSOL
POLLUTION BY ERTS (Task 1) 6. Performing Organization Code
7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report No.
G.E. Copeland, et al.
9. Performing Organization Nameand Address 10. Work Unit No.
Old Dominion University Research Foundation
P.O. Box 6173 11. Contract-or Grant No.
Norfolk, Va. 23508 NAS5-21816
13. Type of Report and Period Covered
12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address Semi-Annual Report
National Aeronautics&Space Administration Aug. 4,1972-Jan. 31,197
Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt Road 114. Sponsoring Agency Code
GrPpnhelt Maryland 20771
15. Supplementary Notes
16. Abstract
Photogrammetric and densitometric examination of ERTS-1
MSS imagery of Eastern Virginia coupled with extensive ground
truth air quality and meteorological data has shown that the
identification and surveying of fixed particulate emitters
(smoke plumes) is feasible. A description of the ground truth
network is included. The quantitative monitoring of smoke
stacks from orbital altitudes over state-size regions appears
possible when tied to realistic plume models and minimal
ground truth. Contrast reductions over urban areas can
possibly be utilized to produce isopleths of particulates
when supplemented by local measurements.
17. Key Words (Selected by Author(s)) 18. Distribution Statement
19. Security Classif. (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price
*For sale by the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151.
'(E73-10419) REMOTE DETECTION OF AEROSOL N73-
pOLLUTION BY ERTS Semiannual Report, 4
tiuq. 1972 - 31 Jan. 1973 (old Dominion
/Univ. Research Foundation) 9 p HC $3.00 Unclas
CSCL 04B G3/13 00419
7 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19730011654 2020-03-23T03:01:55+00:00Z
REMOTE DETECTION OF AEROSOL POLLUTION
BY ERTS
G. E. Copeland, A. Ro Bandy, E. C. Kindle,
R. N. Blais, and G. M. Hilton
Department of Geophysical Sciences
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, Virginia 23508
ABSTRACT
Photogrammetric and densitometric examination of ERTS-1
MSS imagery of Eastern Virginia coupled with extensive ground
truth air quality and meteorological data has shown that the
identification and surveying of fixed particulate emitters
(smoke plumes) is feasible. A description of the ground truth
network is included. The quantitative monitoring of smoke
stacks from orbital altitudes over state-size regions appears
possible when tied to realistic plume models and minimal
ground truth. Contrast reductions over urban areas can
possibly be utilized to produce isopleths of particulates
when supplemented by local measurements.
I. INTRODUCTION
Reasonably cloud free ERTS-1 MSS imagery has been obtained of
Eastern Virginia since launch. To date imagery has been examined
both for detailed atmospheric phenomena including contrails, urban
fires and.smoke plumes of fixed emission sources, and for area-wide
aerosol loading manifest by image contrast reduction. The develop-
ment of the method by which ERTS imagery can be applied to assessment
of particulate concentrations is progressing rapidly.
II. DATA SOURCES
Data sources can be subdivided for discussion purposes into
those for which data is directly available to the investigators and
those for which data must be generated by the investigators.
Data sources from which information is directly available include
the emission inventory and ambient air quality monitoring program of the
Virginia State Air Pollution Control Board (VSAPCB), local meteorological
stations, urban fire departments and the FAA Air Traffic Control Office
I
2at local airports. VSAPCB emission inventory (partial listing in
Figure 1) has been kindly made available to us so that we have a
complete listing of all major industrial and governmentalaerosol
fixed emission sources in the area, together with an estimate of the
quantity and quality of the effluent. The regular air quality monitoring
of the VSAPCB also yields periodic information on concentrations of
particulates and S02 at numerous sites (cf. Figure 2) in the test
region, as well as continuous NO, NOx, 03, CO, and coefficient of haze
(COH) and meteorological information at certain selected sites. Further
meteorological information is received from the numerous weather
stations (cf. Figure 3) that abound in the area because of the large
number of naval installations. Aerosol plumes that are not predict-
able in location or character include those of urban and rural fires,
and thus, fires in progress at the time of the satellite pass are
reported to us by local fire departments. In addition, the pattern
of contrails over the area at the time of each pass has to be verified
by finding the location, direction, and altitude of all airplanes in
the area capable of producing one.
Information generated by the investigators as ground truth
correlation to the ERTS imagery includes much oblique and some aerial
photography of selected smoke plumes, plus the data gathered and
analyzed by three well-equipped laboratory facilities at Old
Dominion University: an air pollution monitoring laboratory, a
mobile air pollution and meteorological monitoring van, and an air
pollution standards laboratory for the calibration of instruments
and analysis of samples from the other two laboratories.
Photographic studies of particular smoke plumes are an essential
portion of a ground truth program because they yield high resolution
information, are subject to a large variety of photometric analysis
techniques, and are relatively inexpensive. Typical photographs
used by us in the past include NASA U-2 photos of the area, aerial
photos from a local radio station weather helicopter, and photos
taken by us from tall buildings during satellite passes. The U-2
high altitude photos show in higher resolution than ERTS imagery the
spectral signature and dispersal of specific plumes under varying met-
eorological, seasonal and background conditions. Loweraltitude aerial
photos have been made by the helicopter of local radio station WTAR-AM
during its twice daily traffic report flights. Finally, we have made
horizon photos from the roofs of tall buildings using both regular and
telephoto lenses, and on occasion using filters that match the band
passes of ERTS MSS bands 4, 5, and 6o
The first of our three facilities at Old Dominion University devoted
exclusively to air pollution studies is an air monitoring laboratory
that is designated an official monitoring station of the VSAPCB, but
that goes well beyond the instrumentation required for that task. The
following instruments are currently in use for measuring air quality:
3a continuous chemilumenescent ozone (03) and nitrogen oxide (NO, NO%,
NOx) monitor; a continuous flame photometric sulfur compound (H2S, sO2)
analyzer; a continuous flame ionization methane and total non-methane
hydrocarbon analyzer; a twenty-four hour integration time S02 bubbler
train; four high volume air samplers; and a two hour integration time
coefficient of haze tape sampler. These instruments, sampling off a
forty-foot glass intake manifold provide information that is correlated
to local meteorological variations. Such variations are monitored on
the site by weather instruments mounted on a seventy-foot tower
giving continuous readings on analog recording devices of wind speed
and direction, temperature, insolation, relative humidity, and air
pressure.
The Mobile Air Pollution Laboratory is similarly equipped to
monitor air quality and meteorological data at specific test sites,
such as Wallops Island and Great Dismal Swamp, where-month-long studies
are scheduled for summer, 1973. This 8' x 18' trailer on tandem
wheels can collect data with the following facilities: continuous
monitors for ambient levels of 03, NO, N02, NH , S02, H2S, methane and
total hydrocarbon; continuous temperature, wind speed and direction
monitors at four altitudes to forty meters; ground level monitors of
humidity, barometric pressure and insolation; suspended particulate
monitors including millipore filters, high volume air samplers, and
a single band nepthelometer; and PDP/8 Digital Acquisition System
with teletype and magnetic tape units for instrumental control of the
entire monitoring operation, and data manipulation and storage.
Both the mobile and fixed laboratory are supported by the Air
Quality Standards Laboratory, which calibrates all instruments.
Facilities include an isothermal gaseous permeation tube for providing
metered flows of pollutants at known concentration levels for calibrat-
ion of instruments, and devices for generating pure samples of each
pollutant; milligram pan balances, microscopes, desiccators and ovens.
Finally, elemental analysis of air filter samples can be done locally.
by x-ray fluorescence and x-ray diffraction, and additionally neutron
activation analysis can be done using facilities at Virginia Polytechnic
Institute.
III. CONCLUSIONS
Large amplitude high frequency variability of aerosols presents
a serious problem which is beyond conventional economic resources
for information sensing and processing. It has been concluded that the
only hope for an adequate definition of pollution concentration would
be through a judicious integration of the following four measurement,
analysis and diagnostic approaches.
a. Conventional direct sensing systems, which would provide a
quantitative input. (Air quality and meteorological data)
b. Remote imaging capabilities from aircraft and ERTS type satellites
to provide the character of spatial resolution of the aerosols.
4c. Numerical models, which combine the above and provide high
temporal resolution.
d. Improved understanding of the constituents, their sources
and interaction processes, which provide the basis for improved
application of all the above.
In pursuit of approaches a, b, and c above the ground truth system
has been developed, ERTS imagery has been analyzed and starts made
on adopting numerical models for plume behavior so that the ERTS
imagery may be quantified and the human intake level of aerosols deter-
mined. Smoke plumes generated by fossil fuel electrical plants are
regularly detectedo Numerous smaller industrial emission sources have
been discovered and reported to VSAPCB. Contrails and urban fires have
been detected. Detailed analysis of the characteristic plume geometries
is being accomplished from ERTS imagery.
Computation of atmospheric diffusion coefficients from photometric
analysis of ERTS imagery appears quite possible. This can be incorpor-
ated into numerical models to assess surface concentrations which will
be verified by the mobile laboratory. This program can be solved
backwards to provide estimates of stack emission rates and thus
provide a great cost reduction in stack monitoring.
Figure 4 shows a drawing of a series of three plumes as observed
on 23 September, 1973o Each is over 10 kilometers long. A densi-
tometric scar. perpendicular to the plumes' symmetry axis is shown in
Figure 5 . Although final analysis of imagery and ground truth is not
yet accomplished, this plume (C) appears to closely follow standard
Gaussian diffusion models. It is recognized that image spread may
produce problems but this can be solved by examination of high contrast
subjects and/or by incorporation of spread effects in plume models.
an O
FigUre A: Locaticns of miajor Fixed Sources of Particulate Polluters in
Hampton Jioads-Region.
:':
5'a
IIr
21 .l1
* . . . . . . . . . . .. .
Figure. Lcoations of Major Air Quality Mcnitoring Sites in Hampton
Roads Region (YSAPC3 and ODU).
77 16 ;
Figure3 Locations of.Meteorological Stations in the Target Area.'
6SCAN
A
Figure 4: MSS 5 23 Sept 1972
Several smoke plumes
Image I.D. 1062 15193 5
near Chester,Virginia
7(D
,.
am
C)
d)
C\
II
1rl
oft
0
0
H
O
0\
a) c oC)
U] CO coa4., - -
cuj
H
C)
+o
< i- rH 2 E si W e C) H Ei- Hr
Figure 5: Densitometer Scan Perpendicular to Symmetry Axis.
VSAPCB
Air Quality
DataNOAA
Tide Data
Photography
etc.
Data
NOAA, ODU
NASA, etc.ODU Standards
Laboratory
Figure 6: Data Input Sources to Earth Resources Analysis Laboratory (ODU).
8


Remote detection of aerosol pollution by ERTS

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