Unreported methane emissions exceed official records, and satellites offer a means to detect these leaks, thus minimizing waste of a valuable resource
Satellite Monitoring Revolutionizes Methane Leak Detection and Mitigation
Satellite-based monitoring is revolutionizing the way we detect and mitigate methane leaks from oil and gas operations and landfills. This innovative technology provides precise, wide-area measurements of methane emissions, identifies emission hotspots, and enables rapid response to leaks.
The Carbon Mapper Coalition, led by Riley Duren, a research scientist at the University of Arizona, is at the forefront of this revolution. The first satellite of Carbon Mapper, a partnership with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Planet Labs, is scheduled to launch in 2024, with plans to expand the constellation in coming years.
High-resolution detection and mapping are key to this technology. Satellites like MethaneSAT use imaging spectrometers to detect methane concentrations with high spatial resolution, allowing them to pinpoint the exact sources of emissions over large regions such as oil and gas fields and landfills. MethaneSAT revealed massive, previously unknown emissions, identifying so-called super-emitters where leaks far exceed allowable limits—up to 45 times higher in some areas.
The satellites also quantify emission rates. For instance, MethaneSAT detected over 970,000 pounds of methane per hour emitted from the South Caspian Basin alone. Such quantification helps prioritize where to intervene for maximum climate impact.
Satellite data can be processed quickly to track methane plumes back to their sources. For example, an alert reported methane leaks releasing multiple tonnes per hour, prompting rapid notification of operators to address the problem.
The accurate data from satellites informs better government regulation and encourages the oil and gas industry to cut emissions. MethaneSAT aimed to enable a 75% reduction in methane emissions from oil and gas by 2030 by providing transparent, reliable data that holds emitters accountable.
Remote sensing satellites and airplanes can quickly survey large areas and detect methane leaks, even pinpointing super-emitters to specific sites. In fact, a recent paper from Carbon Mapper found that emissions from 20% of U.S. landfills were 40% higher than the emissions reported to the federal government using assumption-based accounting.
Methane leaks are equivalent to venting profits into the atmosphere for oil and gas companies, landfill operators, and some large farms with methane digesters, as methane in these cases is valuable and can be captured and put to use. Therefore, many of these entities are motivated to find and fix leaks.
However, it's worth noting that MethaneSAT itself ceased operation unexpectedly in mid-2025, but the data collected continues to support ongoing climate efforts and informs future satellite missions.
Approximately 90% of methane emissions from fossil-fuel production and use are estimated to come from only 10% of the Earth's surface. To address this, Carbon Mapper plans to launch a constellation of satellites that will be able to zoom in and pinpoint individual methane emitters, complementing MethaneSat.
The Environmental Defense Fund has also launched MethaneSat, a satellite capable of providing a precise and complete picture of methane emissions across large landscapes. This technology is a significant step forward in our fight against climate change, helping guide leak detection and repair efforts, warning nearby communities of risks, and contributing to assessments about the effectiveness of policies.
- The Carbon Mapper Coalition, utilizing technology like satellites for Earth observation, aims to expand its constellation in the coming years for more precise remote sensing.
- The scientific community is leveraging space exploration and data-and-cloud-computing to quantify methane emission rates and pinpoint sources of leaks for faster response.
- Climate-change mitigation efforts are being bolstered by the accurate data from satellites used for space economy activities, which guides government regulation and encourages the oil and gas industry to reduce emissions.
- Remote sensing satellites and airplanes are playing a crucial role in identifying and locating super-emitters of methane, which can lead to significant reductions in emissions and profit loss for the oil and gas industry.
- The technology used in satellites for space exploration, such as MethaneSat launched by the Environmental Defense Fund, is not only revolutionizing methane leak detection but also contributing to the larger environmental-science field by improving climate change assessments and policy evaluations.
