Remote Sensing Applications C-4.2 THE INFLUENCE OF GAS PIPELINE LEAKAGE ON PLANT DEVELOPMENT AND

Gas pipeline leaks occur regularly. It is essential that such leaks are discovered quickly to avoid environmental pollution and waste of resources. When pipelines are buried in the soil, it can be difficult to find the leaks, especially if leakage rates are low. One method to locate gas leaks is to use vegetation as an indicator. Satellite remote sensing might be a tool for monitoring the vegetation growing along the pipelines continuously, providing gas companies with information about possible leaks. Although research has been done the influence of gas leakage on vegetation reflectance, it is not known exactly how gas in the soil affects plant health and reflectance. In this research, we tried to understand how natural gas and two of its components (methane and ethane) affect the development and reflectance of maize plants. Two experiments were done in which plants were exposed to gas in the soil. In the first (greenhouse) experiment, the focus was on the influence of natural gas, methane, and ethane on plant development and leaf reflectance. The second experiment focused on the influence of natural gas on canopy reflectance. During one growth season, weekly measurements were don