The newest research warns that the opportunity is rapidly shut down to prevent the most catastrophic global warming. The results may be exacerbated by an extremely slight differential – just half a degree Celsius.
One of the quickest and most economic ways to reduce the pace of climate change is by reducing methane emissions from the petroleum and gas industry. However, it can be difficult to track these invisible emissions.
This was the idea behind MethaneSAT, a new compact satellite specifically designed to determine the location and magnitude of methane emissions virtually all over the world.
Why is methane focused?
It's a powerful greenhouse gas, methane. A fifth of today's global warming is due to human-made methane emissions.
Leading outlet is the oil and gas industry. Companies release at least 75 million tons a year from remote wellheads to gas lines – enough gas for energy to be produced twice over for the entire Africa region.
Comprehensive EDF research indicates that U.S. gas and oil methane emissions are 60 % higher than the government's EPA estimates.
MethaneSAT will have a high-resolution view of the entire planet and exceeds everything on the orbit or drawing board currently, established by MethaneSAT LLC's EDF affiliate. The satellite infrastructure addresses holes that other satellite systems lack.
Since MethaneSAT concentrates only on methnic, the launch of the complicated and multi-function satellites produced by government space agencies is faster and less costly so that we can get data earlier.
We share the data for action
MethaneSAT is designed to map and measure worldwide emissions of oil and gas methane, including approximately 50 major oil and gas regions accounting for over 80 % of the world 's production.
These should also be able to analyze crop waste, structures and other man-made sources.
As with the attempts by EDF to encourage environmental progress through technical advancement, the role of MethaneSat is to turn data into practice.
MethaneSAT data, which is open to be accessed by all, lets companies and policy makers detect problems , find solutions, and track pollution reduction progress.
So it assures the collective goal that cuts can be implemented by both industry and government.
In the 2018 TED Talk as part of the Audacious Initiative, Fred Krupp, EDF Chairman, introduced a MethaneSAT concept.
MethaneSAT is a vital tool in achieving our aim of reducing emissions of methane from a range of sources, including world oil and gas.
The same 20-year climatic gain as closing down 1/3 of global coal-fired power plants will be accomplished by rising oil and gas pollution by 45 percent by 2025.
The quickest and easiest way to reduce the heating cycle now is to cut emissions, even if the emissions of carbon dioxide are also being hit.
Draw on study and skills
The launch is expected in 2022 of MethaneSAT. Tom Ingersoll, a 3-year active satellite provider, and other specialists in spaceflight, remote sensing and atmospheric science are responsible for getting it off the ground.
And the MethaneSAT team has colvoked the science necessary for this mission with Harvard University and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.
We have learned that emissions are much higher than previously recognized by industry or government and happen throughout the supply chain.
The goal is to find it impossible to foresee when the origins happen, sporadic, erratic and common.
Continuous tracking and evaluation is therefore necessary. MethaneSAT can help to turn a significant climate problem into a critical advantage by delivering accurate, fully open data worldwide.
