The latest innovation from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has enabled the detection of methane and carbon dioxide plumes around the world. The Carbon Mapper satellite, equipped with an imaging spectrometer, has identified emission hotspots in Pakistan, Texas, and South Africa, providing crucial data to address greenhouse gas challenges.
Groundbreaking Satellite Detects Greenhouse Gas Plumes
The Carbon Mapper satellite, a joint effort between the nonprofit Carbon Mapper and Planet Labs PBC, has made a significant breakthrough in the detection of greenhouse gas emissions. Equipped with an imaging spectrometer designed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the satellite has identified methane and carbon dioxide plumes in several regions around the world.
The data collected by the satellite is particularly valuable in addressing the pressing issue of greenhouse gas emissions. By pinpointing the locations and magnitudes of these plumes, policymakers and environmental organizations can better target their efforts to mitigate climate change. The satellite’s ability to detect emissions down to the facility level is a game-changer, as it allows for more precise and effective interventions.
Identifying Methane and Carbon Dioxide Hotspots Globally
The Carbon Mapper satellite has already identified several significant greenhouse gas plumes, providing a glimpse into the global landscape of emissions. In Pakistan, a methane plume emanating from a landfill in Karachi was detected, with an estimated emission rate of over 2,600 pounds (1,200 kilograms) of methane per hour. In the Permian Basin of Texas, one of the world’s largest oil fields, another methane plume was observed, with an estimated emission rate of nearly 900 pounds (400 kilograms) per hour.
The satellite also detected a carbon dioxide plume from a coal-fired power plant in Kendal, South Africa, with an estimated emission rate of roughly 1.3 million pounds (600,000 kilograms) per hour. These findings highlight the critical role that satellite technology can play in identifying and monitoring greenhouse gas sources, ultimately supporting efforts to mitigate climate change.
The Innovative Technology Behind the Carbon Mapper Satellite
The success of the Carbon Mapper satellite is built upon decades of technological advancements in imaging spectrometry, pioneered by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. In the 1980s, JPL developed the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS), which laid the groundwork for the technology used in the Carbon Mapper satellite.
More recently, NASA installed the Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) imaging spectrometer aboard the International Space Station, further advancing the capabilities of this technology. The imaging spectrometer aboard the Carbon Mapper satellite is a descendant of these pioneering instruments, allowing it to measure hundreds of wavelengths of light reflected from the Earth’s surface and identify the unique spectral fingerprints of different chemicals, including methane and carbon dioxide.
This innovative technology, combined with the satellite’s ability to scan large areas of the Earth’s surface daily, makes the Carbon Mapper a powerful tool in the fight against climate change. By providing detailed, actionable data on greenhouse gas emissions, the satellite is poised to play a crucial role in guiding policymakers and environmental organizations as they work to address the global challenge of climate change.
