<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/climate-group-creates-satellite-to-track-methane-super-emitters-from-space/>
"The world’s biggest methane producers could be identified from space after a
climate group created a satellite to detect and track greenhouse gas “super
emitters”.
Non-profit organisation Carbon Mapper planned to launch the satellite, which is
smaller than a bar fridge, on a SpaceX rocket in California early on Friday
morning.
The satellite will be one of two tracking methane, which is the second most
common greenhouse gas in the atmosphere and makes a significant contribution to
global warming.
The launch will come one week after the federal government awarded $9 million
to Australian research groups investigating ways to reduce methane emissions
from livestock.
Carbon Mapper’s satellite, named Tanager-1, was designed to identify the
largest sources of the greenhouse gas and quantify emissions.
The group, whose partners include the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Planet
Labs and Arizona State University, will make the satellite data publicly
available for policymakers and businesses.
It’s hoped the satellite will provide more specific data about methane sources
across the world, Carbon Mapper chief executive Riley Duren said, after the
group previously used aircraft to track production or methane leaks.
“The first satellite will allow Carbon Mapper to scale up global data on
super-emitters across the fossil fuel, waste and agriculture sectors and
unleash transformative visibility and action,” he said.
Tanager-1 will be the second satellite launched to track methane emissions
worldwide, following the New Zealand and American launch of MethaneSAT in March
2024.
Researchers are expected to combine data from the two satellites to create a
more accurate picture of methane emissions, which the International Energy
Agency estimated was responsible for 30 per cent of the rise in global
temperatures."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
