The vision from Sharon Wilson, known as a “methane hunter” and director of Oilfield Witness, emphasizes the critical importance of stopping methane emissions to combat climate change. She highlights the significance of addressing methane above all other technological advancements in environmental monitoring.
In the realm of satellites, which play a crucial role in modern life through enabling GPS, weather forecasting, communication, and more, a recent addition called Tanager-1 is dedicated to identifying, measuring, and monitoring greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Launched into orbit by SpaceX, Tanager-1 is part of a collaboration between NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Planet Labs, Carbon Mapper, and others. This satellite is specifically designed to detect methane, a potent greenhouse gas that accelerates global warming faster than CO2 in its first 20 years.
Riley Duren, CEO of Carbon Mapper, spoke about the significance of monitoring greenhouse gases to combat climate change. He emphasizes the necessity of measuring in order to manage effectively. Duren’s work led to the creation of Carbon Mapper as a “spin-off” from his efforts to study methane emissions and initiate actions to fix leaks detected from aerial surveillance campaigns.
The launch of MethaneSAT, a satellite developed by the Environmental Defense Fund, marked a significant advancement in methane detection technology. This satellite, along with others in orbit, is set to revolutionize how regulators and watchdogs oversee the oil and gas industry, providing valuable data for environmental advocacy, compliance monitoring, and regulatory enforcement.
The successful deployment of MethaneSAT was a cause for celebration among the team involved in its development at Vandenberg Space Force Base. The data generated by this satellite will be publicly accessible, allowing for a range of stakeholders to utilize the information for regulatory compliance, environmental protection, and climate advocacy efforts. The satellite is expected to bring about improved regulations, targeted policies, and enhanced enforcement mechanisms to address methane emissions and combat climate change effectively.
