Innovations in Modeling and Statistical Analysis for Greenhouse Gas Flux Monitoring

Abstract

This dissertation focuses on innovations in statistics and modeling tools for greenhouse gas flux estimation. It examines a range of observation types at various scales and considers carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). It is composed of 4 studies: 1) a mission planning and design tool for MethaneSAT: a high resolution greenhouse gas imaging satellite, 2) image processing and inverse modelling developments for determining major emitters and fluxes from MethaneSAT observations, 3) an inverse analysis of aircraft in-situ CO2 measurements made in Alaska as part of the Carbon in Arctic Reservoirs Vulnerability Experiment, and 4) a re-casting of the statistics of carbon exchange at Harvard Forest due to tree growth, recruitment, and mortality.