New NASA instrument detects methane ‘super-emitters’ from space
Al JazeeraAUG 2022
NASA's findings are critical to supporting policymakers in regulating dangerous methane gas emissions. Game-changing monitoring tools are also being developed in Europe, which will help to pinpoint sites like power plants and fossil facilities. These space-based tools will help to hold "super emitters" accountable.
While satellites are excellent sources for monitoring and tracking greenhouse gas emissions, there are shortcomings with space-based data collection systems. Satellites don't typically measure all greenhouse gases everywhere all the time, and they must be coupled with ground-based detection systems if we want a true picture of emitters.
While it's crucial to monitor and hold accountable human-based "super emitters," soon the Arctic will be ejecting just as much greenhouse gas into our atmosphere as a large industrial nation — and even potentially as much as the US has emitted since the start of the industrial revolution. We need to bring the power of satellites and sensors to the barren Arctic as well as to human infrastructure.