Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including methane (CH4) are primary drivers of climate change. Methane specifically is critical as it causes 84 times more warming per KG compared to CO2. There exist many undetected emissions, especially in remote areas, as they are difficult to measure through traditional ground-based methods. Some emission sources, such as methane leaks from mining, oil, or gas infrastructure release massive amounts of GHGs in short bursts but are hard to detect, leading to missed opportunities for mitigation.
Satellite-based sensors offer a powerful solution to these challenges by providing consistent, independent data on GHG emissions. Satellites provide near-global coverage, allowing emissions to be detected and measured in areas that are difficult or impossible to access with ground-based systems. This is especially critical for tracking emissions from developing countries, oceans, and remote industrial sites. Satellite EO systems are also capable of identifying and quantifying emissions from "super-emitters”, these high-impact events can be targeted for immediate mitigation efforts. Furthermore, unlike self-reported data, satellite measurements offer an independent and objective source of emissions data.
(image credit: ESA, the image contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2018-20), processed by the University of Leicester)
