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Title: NON-DESTRUCTIVE IN SITU SOIL CARBON ANALYSIS: PRINCIPLE & RESULTS

Author
item WIELOPOLSKI, L - BROOKHAVEN NAT'L LAB.
item MITRA, S - BROOKHAVEN NAT'L LAB.
item HENDREY, G - BROOKHAVEN NAT'L LAB.
item Rogers Jr, Hugo
item Torbert, Henry - Allen
item Prior, Stephen - Steve

Submitted to: National Energy Technology Lab C Sequestration Symposium
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/5/2003
Publication Date: 5/5/2003
Citation: Wielopolski, L., Mitra, S., Hendrey, G. , Rogers, H., Torbert, A., and Prior, S. 2003. Non-destructive in situ soil carbon analysis: Principle and results. In Second National Conference on Carbon Sequestration: Developing and Validating the Technology Base to Reduce Carbon Intensity Program and Abstracts, Alexandria, VA, May 5-8.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Due to efforts to sequester atmospheric C into the soil, there is a need to monitor changes in carbon content due to changes in land practices for carbon storage credits. Studies were undertaken to develop new techniques to non-destructively measure In Situ soil C. The soil carbon analysis was based on Inelastic Neutron Scattering (INS) of fast neutrons from carbon nuclei and prompt detection of 4.44 MeV gamma rays emitted from the excited carbon nucleus. The INS offers a method for quantitative analysis of soil carbon in large volumes of soil that is rapid, non-invasive, non-destructive and would enable carbon depth profiling. Applications of INS would allow for continuous dynamic scan of large fields at conventional speeds of about 5 miles per hour. INS would also allow for other multi-elemental analysis including H, N, C, O, Na, Cl, Si, Ca, Fe, Ti, Gd, S, Al, K, U, and Th. The results of field measurements of INS at three locations will be presented.