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

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