{"id":40101,"date":"2015-04-13T06:00:20","date_gmt":"2015-04-13T11:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/?p=40101"},"modified":"2015-04-13T08:00:04","modified_gmt":"2015-04-13T13:00:04","slug":"scientists-are-flying-over-texas-oil-and-gas-fields-to-measure-air-pollution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/2015\/04\/13\/scientists-are-flying-over-texas-oil-and-gas-fields-to-measure-air-pollution\/","title":{"rendered":"Scientists Are Flying Over Texas Oil and Gas Fields To Measure Air Pollution"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 33%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-40101 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/2015\/04\/13\/scientists-are-flying-over-texas-oil-and-gas-fields-to-measure-air-pollution\/cockpit\/'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/cockpit-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-40105\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/cockpit-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/cockpit-32x32.jpg 32w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/cockpit-64x64.jpg 64w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/cockpit-96x96.jpg 96w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/cockpit-128x128.jpg 128w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/cockpit-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/cockpit-60x60.jpg 60w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-40105'>\n\t\t\t\tA NOAA pilot prepares for a mission over the Eagle Ford shale in South Texas.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/2015\/04\/13\/scientists-are-flying-over-texas-oil-and-gas-fields-to-measure-air-pollution\/pilots\/'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/PILOTS-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-40118\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/PILOTS-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/PILOTS-32x32.jpg 32w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/PILOTS-64x64.jpg 64w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/PILOTS-96x96.jpg 96w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/PILOTS-128x128.jpg 128w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/PILOTS-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/PILOTS-60x60.jpg 60w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-40118'>\n\t\t\t\tNOAA pilots run through safety protocol before the flight.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/2015\/04\/13\/scientists-are-flying-over-texas-oil-and-gas-fields-to-measure-air-pollution\/miss-piggy\/'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/miss-piggy-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-40114\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/miss-piggy-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/miss-piggy-32x32.jpg 32w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/miss-piggy-64x64.jpg 64w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/miss-piggy-96x96.jpg 96w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/miss-piggy-128x128.jpg 128w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/miss-piggy-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/miss-piggy-60x60.jpg 60w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-40114'>\n\t\t\t\tThe NOAA plane that&#8217;s the team is using is the &#8220;Miss Piggy.&#8221;\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/2015\/04\/13\/scientists-are-flying-over-texas-oil-and-gas-fields-to-measure-air-pollution\/flying-lab\/'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/flying-lab-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-40115\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/flying-lab-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/flying-lab-32x32.jpg 32w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/flying-lab-64x64.jpg 64w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/flying-lab-96x96.jpg 96w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/flying-lab-128x128.jpg 128w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/flying-lab-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/flying-lab-60x60.jpg 60w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-40115'>\n\t\t\t\tThe planes has been stripped down and turned into a flying alb.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/2015\/04\/13\/scientists-are-flying-over-texas-oil-and-gas-fields-to-measure-air-pollution\/tubes\/'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/tubes-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-40119\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/tubes-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/tubes-32x32.jpg 32w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/tubes-64x64.jpg 64w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/tubes-96x96.jpg 96w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/tubes-128x128.jpg 128w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/tubes-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/tubes-60x60.jpg 60w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-40119'>\n\t\t\t\tTubes sticking out from the plane\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>\n\t\t\t<br style='clear: both' \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>A\u00a0team of scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration \u2013 NOAA \u2013 has been\u00a0circling over Texas, gathering data.<\/p>\n<p>The flights are part of a project to find out exactly how emissions from the state\u2019s sprawling oil and gas fields pollute the air we breathe.<\/p>\n<p>When he offered me a seat on the plane, Dr. Joost de Gouw, a scientist with NOAA\u2019s earth systems research lab, gave me a warning: There are risks that come with this kind of mission.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou know&#8230;some people can get airsick, and it\u2019s hot and it\u2019s noisy and it\u2019s a seven- to eight-hour flight, so there are tough days,&#8221; de Gouw said.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com\/player\/?url=https%3A\/\/api.soundcloud.com\/tracks\/200217883&amp;color=ff5500&amp;auto_play=false&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false\" height=\"166\" width=\"100%\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>Leading the study, de Gouw spends his time measuring air pollution from America&#8217;s biggest shale fields \u2014 the places where fracking created a boom in oil and gas extraction.<\/p>\n<p>The project tracks things like the excessive production of ozone, which has adverse affects on human health, and methane, a greenhouse gas far more potent than even carbon dioxide.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_40110\"  class=\"wp-caption module image right\" style=\"max-width: 300px;\"><a class=\"fancybox\" title=\"Dr. Joost de Gouw is the NOAA scientist leasing the project.\" href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/joost.jpg\" rel=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-40110\" alt=\"Dr. Joost de Gouw is the NOAA scientist leasing the project.\" src=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/joost-300x200.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/joost-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/joost-620x413.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-media-credit\"> <\/p><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dr. Joost de Gouw is the NOAA scientist leasing the project.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>One thing they want to know is what fraction of the stuff being extracted really just ends up in the atmosphere \u2014 that\u2019s called the \u201cleak rate.\u201d It changes from oil field to oil field.<\/p>\n<p>There are a lot of factors that make one field leak more than another, like exactly what is being pumped from the ground, the techniques and equipment used, and the strength or weakness of regulation in the state where it\u2019s all going on.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We\u2019d like to know where that variability comes from,&#8221; de Gouw said.<\/p>\n<p>They&#8217;re doing it with a little help from\u00a0Miss Piggy. That\u2019s the four-engine turboprop airplane the team uses. (Fun fact: NOAA also has a Kermit and a Gonzo plane.)<\/p>\n<p>Mark Sweeny is the aircraft commander, and he\u2019s not worried about airsickness. Unlike some scientists, and at least one public radio reporter, NOAA pilots are used to choppier missions, like flying into hurricanes.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_40113\"  class=\"wp-caption module image left\" style=\"max-width: 300px;\"><a class=\"fancybox\" title=\"Stickers on the side of the plane commemorate every Hurricane it has flown into. \" href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/huirrisane-count.jpg\" rel=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-40113\" alt=\"Stickers on the side of the plane commemorate every Hurricane it has flown into. \" src=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/huirrisane-count-300x200.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/huirrisane-count-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/files\/2015\/04\/huirrisane-count-620x413.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-media-credit\">Mose Buchele<\/p><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Stickers on the side of the plane commemorate every Hurricane it has flown into.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Miss Piggy\u2019s got 89 under her belt.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYeah, she\u2019s been around a while and has definitely seen some action,\u201d Sweeny said.<\/p>\n<p>Miss Piggy\u2019s cabin has been stripped down and rebuilt as a flying lab. Ahead of the flight, scientists are doing work on the equipment that lines the walls.\u00a0When they get in the air, a team on board and one on the ground will measure readings upwind and downwind of oil and gas activity.<\/p>\n<p>Jeff Peischl is one of those researchers. An atmospheric scientist, he monitors methane, ethane and ammonia.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBasically I\u2019m sucking air in through that tube, and it goes into the instrument and then back out the belly of the plane at the exhaust,&#8221; Peischl said.<\/p>\n<p>Part of his job is to figure out what methane comes from fossil fuel, and what comes from other sources \u2014 like cows. So, I had to ask.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo\u2026you can\u2019t smell methane really. But you can smell ammonia if you\u2019re downwind of a feedlot,&#8221; Peischl said.<\/p>\n<p>Methane with a lot of ethane \u2013 that\u2019s from the oil fields. Methane with ammonia, maybe cows.<\/p>\n<p>The team has wrapped up operations in Texas, but their work is not done. Next stop: the Bakken shale fields of North Dakota.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A\u00a0team of scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration \u2013 NOAA \u2013 has been\u00a0circling over Texas, gathering data. The flights are part of a project to find out exactly how emissions from the state\u2019s sprawling oil and gas fields pollute the air we breathe. When he offered me a seat on the plane, Dr. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[58],"tags":[64,122],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40101"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/51"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40101"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40101\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40120,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40101\/revisions\/40120"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40101"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40101"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40101"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}