MethaneSAT: A Google-Backed Satellite to Track Global Oil Industry Methane Emissions

March 6, 2024

GS Paper III Science and Technology

Context:

Recently a satellite (MethaneSAT) which will track and measure methane emissions at a global scale — was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon9 rocket from California

About MethaneSAT

Objective: To track and measure methane emissions at a global scale. To identify how much methane is coming from where, who’s responsible, and are those emissions going up or down over time.
Promoting entity: Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), a US-based non-profit environmental advocacy group.
Developing partners: Harvard University, the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, and the New Zealand Space Agency.
Mission Partner: Google

Features of MethaneSAT

High Resolution Sensor: The satellite, equipped with a high-resolution infrared sensor and a spectrometer, which will help fill important data gaps.
Detection: It can detect changes in methane levels as small as three parts per billion in the atmosphere, allowing it to identify smaller sources of emissions compared to previous satellites.
Super Emitters: MethaneSAT also boasts a broad camera perspective, covering approximately 200 km by 200 km, enabling it to detect larger emitters known as “super emitters“.

About Methane Emission:

Occurrence: Atmospheric methane (CH4) occurs in nature as the primary component of natural gas.
Contribution: It is the second largest contributor to climate change, accounting for around 16% of the warming effect
- According to the UNEP, methane has 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide during the first 20 years after it is released into the atmosphere.
Global Warming Potential: Its warming effect is 28 times greater than CO2 over a 100-year timescale (80 times over 20 years).

Also Read: Cop28 Turns Attention To Potent Methane Emissions

News Source: Indian Express

Must Read
NCERT Notes For UPSC	UPSC Daily Current Affairs
UPSC Blogs	UPSC Daily Editorials
Daily Current Affairs Quiz	Daily Main Answer Writing
UPSC Mains Previous Year Papers	UPSC Test Series 2024