SON--NR-MAC200-22-00886 (2).pdf

Statement of Need – NR - MAC200-22-00886

1. Background and Purpose

Methane is the second most important GHG next to carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), contributing

0.48 W/m 2 (or 17%) globally to the total anthropogenic direct radiative forcing. Over a 20-year time horizon, CH 4 is 86 times as potent as CO 2 in terms of global warming potential and represents an important climate change mitigation option in the near term due to its relatively short lifetime of about 10 years. Quantifying urban CH 4 emissions is thus important for establishing scientifically sound, cost-effective policies for mitigating climate change due to anthropogenic emissions of GHGs.

NOAA/ARL/ASMD has a requirement for a methane/ethane analyzer for the Greenhouse Gas Mitigation project. The equipment will be deployed on a mobile SUV and a research aircraft to measure methane/ethane in the air over the Washington, DC-Baltimore area and the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

2. Scope and Objectives

Methane is a major component and ethane is a minor component of natural gas.

Methane is an important driver of global warming. Methane is also associated with global atmospheric oxidation and ozone formation. Proper and accurate quantification of methane is necessary for assessing its climate impact.

3. Product’s Technical Specifications

Our requirements for methane/ethane measurements include:

● Real-time continuous and fast (1 Hz or more) measurements

● Light weight to meet the aircraft weight limitation (less than 30 lbs)

● Reliable, rugged, and automatic: power-on and go

● Low power consumption (less than 50W at steady state)

● High sensitivity - Methane <1ppb/s, Ethane: <0.5 ppb/s

● Low drift - less than 2 ppb for methane

● Fast response - 1 second or faster

● Detection Range - Methane: 0 - 10,000ppm; Ethane: 0-1,000ppm

● Compact - less than 4U of 19-inch rack space

Quantity - 2

Based on extensive market research, the Government has determined that there are commercial off the shelf items that can meet these requirements.

4. Ship to Address

NOAA Air Resources Laboratory R/ARL - NCWCP - Room 4266 5830 University Research Court College Park, MD 20740 Attn: Xinrong.Ren@noaa.gov

5. Requested Delivery Date

Around September 30, 2022