从太空量化AI数据中心的氮氧化物（NO$_x$）排放量
Quantifying AI data center nitrogen oxide (NO$_x$) emissions from space
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中文总结 AI 辅助
本研究利用TEMPO卫星从太空探测并量化了SpaceXAI Colossus 2发电厂的NO$_x$排放，发现其排放量远超许可限值，且无法通过常规卫星分析探测预期水平的排放。
中文摘要 AI 辅助
AI数据中心的电力需求正推动现场及近现场天然气涡轮机的快速部署，该设备产生的氮氧化物（NO$_x$）污染日益受到关注，但此前尚未通过大气观测对其进行量化。本文展示了从太空对密西西比州南港SpaceXAI Colossus 2发电厂NO$_x$排放的探测与量化。利用地球静止轨道TEMPO卫星仪器的观测数据，我们在该电厂于2025年末投运后，探测到当地平均NO$_2$柱浓度大幅上升。随后，我们利用TEMPO估算了2025年8月至2026年8月中旬两周平均的NO$_x$源排放率，并结合美国发电厂的连续排放监测系统（CEMS）数据进行校准。TEMPO于2025年12月首次探测到NO$_x$排放，速率为460±180 kg h$^{-1}$。我们发现排放量在2026年8月持续上升，2026年2月后平均达730±185 kg h$^{-1}$，约为该设施2026年3月许可的41台采用最佳可用控制技术（BACT）的涡轮机预期排放量（约47 kg h$^{-1}$）的16倍。若排放量处于预期水平，我们的TEMPO分析将无法探测到。
英文摘要
AI data center power demand is spurring rapid deployment of on- and near-site natural gas turbines. Nitrogen oxide (NO$_x$) pollution from this equipment is a growing concern but has not previously been quantified with atmospheric observations. Here we demonstrate space-based detection and quantification of NO$_x$ emissions from the SpaceXAI Colossus 2 power plant in Southaven, Mississippi. Using observations from the geostationary TEMPO satellite instrument, we detect a strong increase in local mean NO$_2$ column concentrations after the plant began operations in late 2025. We then use TEMPO to estimate two-week-average NO$_x$ source rates from August 2025 to mid-August 2026, calibrating against continuous emission monitoring system (CEMS) data from US power plants. TEMPO first detected NO$_x$ emissions in December 2025 at 460$\pm$180 kg h$^{-1}$. We find that emissions increased through August 2026, averaging 730$\pm$185 kg h$^{-1}$ after February 2026, roughly 16 times higher than expected from the facility's March 2026 permit for 41 turbines operating under best available control technology (BACT) requirements ($\sim$47 kg h$^{-1}$). Emissions at the expected level would be undetectable by our TEMPO analysis.
