Source: Meet MethaneSAT, a satellite which will ‘name and shame’ methane emitters, The Indian Express, March 5, 2024
In a significant step towards tackling global warming, the MethaneSAT satellite was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon9 rocket from California. This washing-machine-sized satellite aims to provide unprecedented details on methane emissions globally, surpassing the capabilities of its predecessors in both scope and detail.
Here’s an explainer on everything you need to know about MethaneSAT, its importance, and the technology it brings to the environmental monitoring landscape.
Why Monitor Methane Emissions?
The Impact of Methane on Global Warming
- Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, second only to carbon dioxide in its contribution to global warming, responsible for 30% of the heating effect since the Industrial Revolution.
- Over 20 years, methane is 80 times more effective at warming the Earth than carbon dioxide.
Health and Environmental Concerns
- Methane contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone, a harmful gas causing up to one million premature deaths annually.
- The primary source of human-caused methane emissions is fossil fuel operations, accounting for about 40% of the total.
Understanding MethaneSAT
The Organization Behind It
- Developed by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) in collaboration with Harvard University, the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, and the New Zealand Space Agency.
Operational Capabilities
- MethaneSAT will orbit Earth 15 times a day, focusing on monitoring the oil and gas sector.
- It will generate data on methane emission sources, amounts, responsible parties, and trends over time, which will be publicly available in nearly real-time.
Key Features of MethaneSAT
Addressing Data Challenges
- Traditional methods and satellites face difficulties in accurately tracking and measuring methane emissions, especially from smaller sources that constitute the majority of emissions in many regions.
- Global methane emissions are estimated to be 70% higher than reported by national governments, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Technological Innovations
- MethaneSAT is equipped with a high-resolution infrared sensor and a spectrometer, capable of detecting methane concentration differences as small as three parts per billion.
- Its wide camera view (200 km x 200 km) allows for the identification of both large and small emission sources.
- Data analysis will utilize cloud-computing and AI technology developed by Google, with findings made available through Google’s Earth Engine platform.
The Significance of MethaneSAT
Supporting Global Methane Management Efforts
- The satellite’s launch aligns with increasing global commitments to reduce methane emissions, such as the Global Methane Pledge signed by over 150 countries and corporate commitments to reduce methane emissions and routine flaring.
Promoting Transparency and Accountability
- MethaneSAT’s data will be accessible worldwide, aiding in tracking governmental and corporate methane reduction commitments.
- While the availability of data doesn’t guarantee behavioral change among polluters, it is a critical step towards transparency and accountability in environmental management.