Atmospheric monitoring

Purpose

This activity aims to conduct research into the monitoring of geologically stored CO2 using atmospheric techniques and how carbon capture and storage may affect the atmosphere and climate.

Summary

This activity brings atmospheric knowledge and technology to:

Atmospheric monitoring is comprised of a suite of technologies that will measure the composition of the atmosphere and surface-atmosphere fluxes as a function of time and location. This could potentially identify if any leakage through to the surface is occurring. Atmospheric monitoring is non invasive, continuous and can integrate emissions from a number of locations. It is challenging however because atmospheric mixing reduces the concentration signal from the source relative to the background and because the background atmospheric CO2 concentration can be highly variable as a result of natural, agricultural and industrial emissions.

Very precise, continuous and exactly calibrated measurement techniques and a number of modelling methodologies are therefore required to measure the small perturbations of concentrations and fluxes likely to be caused by the geological storage sources and to quantify any emissions to the atmosphere.

This activity brings atmospheric knowledge and technology to:

• determine the requirements of atmospheric measurement and modelling techniques for monitoring and verification of carbon storage in Australia and New Zealand.
• scope and assess atmospheric monitoring techniques that could be applied to CCS in different settings.
• assess the benefits for the atmosphere from the reduction of CO2 emissions using CCS,  and the possible risks e.g. the impact of leakage, the use of tracers, the impact on oxygen.
• keep abreast of local and international developments in atmospheric monitoring of CO2 storages, natural analogues and controlled release experiments, including regulatory matters.
• apply monitoring technology developments to the Otway Project (Program 3.2).