Articles | Volume 19, issue 21
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-7131-2026
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-7131-2026
Research article
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11 Nov 2026
Research article | Highlight paper |  | 11 Nov 2026

Facility-scale quantification and monitoring of ammonia (NH3) emissions using ASTER multispectral thermal infrared observations

Lidewij B. Tijhuis, Tyler Wizenberg, and Enrico Dammers

Data sets

earthaccess A. Barrett et al. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8365009

Video abstract

Facility-scale ammonia (NH3) emissions quantified from ASTER TIR observations! video summary Lidewij B. Tijhuis https://youtube.com/shorts/2NaMHi63f3E?si=NhaIWE-uTxEhzcWr

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Editorial statement
This study shows how satellite observations can identify and quantify ammonia emissions at the scale of individual facilities. By extending this capability to widely available multispectral thermal-infrared instruments, the work offers a potentially scalable approach for monitoring an important air pollutant and supporting emission-reduction policies.
Short summary
Ammonia is an air pollutant that affects human health, ecosystems, and climate, but satellite measurements usually cannot identify emissions from individual facilities. We show that high‑resolution thermal infrared images can detect ammonia plumes at a much finer scale than existing satellites. This enables clearer identification of industrial sources and provides new opportunities for improved emission estimates and the design of future satellite missions.
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