Design and Implementation of an Instrument for Methane (CH4) and Nitrous Oxide (N2O) Measurements

Abstract

Methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) are noxious greenhouse gases.
They are the two most important greenhouse gases after carbon dioxide.
Their production and release to the atmosphere are largely due to human
activities. To curtail the buildup and the inadvertent greenhouse effects of
these gases, their concentration contribution from the different
compartments needs to be ascertained and well understood. Versatile
instruments that can track the atmospheric concentration of these gases
are needed before any meaningful investigation can take place. To fill this
gap, an instrument for measuring methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) gas
concentrations as well as ambient temperature and relative humidity have
been constructed. Semiconductor sensors with high sensitivity to their
respective target gases were utilized. The specification of the instrument
includes immediate result display and storage for subsequent data
analysis. The instrument was tested at different locations with the
propensity for the emission of the target gases. Contrary to expectation,
the obtained results showed that CH4 emission was much more at the
market location than at a gas filling station. The trend between the
obtained results at other locations compared with the one from the control
site showed that the data obtained with the instrument is reliable.