MethaneSAT

MethaneSAT : Recently, in a setback to global climate monitoring efforts, MethaneSAT, a satellite launched to detect methane leaks, has gone missing in space, according to the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), which is spearheading the project.

• About MethaneSAT: To track and measure methane emissions on a global scale, with a particular focus on the oil and gas sector.

o It aims to provide greater detail and a wider field of view compared to previous satellites, helping identify emission trends over time.

• Key Capabilities: Orbits the Earth 15 times a day, capturing extensive methane data from around the globe.

  o Equipped with a high-resolution infrared sensor and a spectrometer, allowing it to detect methane concentration differences as small as three parts per billion.

  o Features a wide viewing area of approximately 200 km by 200 km, enabling it to identify large methane emitters, often referred to as "super emitters."

  • Google will provide cloud computing and AI technology to process and analyze the data collected by MethaneSAT.

  o The processed findings will be made available to the public through Google’s Earth Engine platform.