Monitoring effects of a controlled subsurface carbon dioxide release on vegetation using a hyperspectral imager

A hyperspectral imaging system was used to monitor vegetation during a subsurface controlled release of carbon dioxide (CO2). From August 3 to 10, 2007, 0.3 tons CO2/day were released through a 70 m horizontal pipe located at a nominal depth of 1.8 m below the surface. Hyperspectral images of alfalfa plants were collected during the controlled release and used along with classification tree analysis to study changes in the reflectance spectra as a function of perpendicular distance from the horizontal pipe. Changes in the reflectance spectra near the red edge (650–750 nm) were observed over the course of the controlled release experiment for plants within a perpendicular distance of 1 m of the release pipe. These results indicate monitoring vegetation over a carbon sequestration site has the potential to allow monitoring of the integrity of the CO2 storage.