Hyperspectral Sensor for Analysis of Gases in the Atmosphere (HYGAS)

Remote sensing by infrared spectroscopy allows identification and quantification of atmospheric gases as well as airborne pollutants. An application of the method that has gained increased interest in recent years is remote sensing of hazardous gases. If hazardous compounds are released into the atmosphere, for example in the case of a chemical accident, emergency response forces require information about the released compounds immediately in order to take appropriate measures to protect workers, residents, and the environment. A hyperspectral sensor allows identification and visualisation of hazardous clouds in the atmosphere from long distances. The image of a cloud allows an assessment of the dimensions and the dispersion of a cloud. In addition, the source of a cloud may be located. A hyperspectral sensor based on an imaging Fourier-transform spectrometer with a focal plane array detector is currently being developed for this application. Compared to conventional spectrometers, hyperspectral systems allow the use of spatial information in addition to spectral information. In addition to the application of remote sensing of hazardous gases, the system may be applied in other fields of research such as the detection of liquids and atmospheric measurements. In this work, the HYGAS system and first results of measurements are presented.