Who has developed this new satellite?
Our planet is getting hotter because of greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists are working hard to stop the emission of these gases. Recently, a satellite named MethaneSAT was launched. It will fly around the Earth and detect methane emissions from major facilities worldwide.
A group called the Environmental Defense Fund made this satellite. They worked with Harvard University, the Smithsonian Observatory, and the New Zealand Space Agency. Google is also helping with this project.
Why is it essential to track methane?
Methane is a gas that makes the Earth warmer. Extracting and using fossil fuels adds a lot of methane to the air. Methane is the second-worst gas responsible for making the Earth warmer, right after carbon dioxide.
Many countries and big organisations have promised to reduce methane emissions. Methane harms our environment, and we must reduce its emissions. However, it is difficult to track methane emissions accurately.
Agriculture, waste management, oil, gas, coal mining, etc., release methane emissions. It is also released from lesser sources like wildfires. The MethaneSAT will help track methane emissions, helping minimise them.
How will the MethaneSAT work?
MethaneSAT will orbit the Earth 15 times daily, watching the oil and gas, agriculture, coal industries, etc. The satellite will also help detect large and small emission sources.
It will collect information to show where methane comes from, who makes it, and if there's more or less of it. The satellite has tools to get this information. Google will examine the data using artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies.
Who will be able to access this data?
Soon, the information will be available on Google Earth for everyone to see. The data can be accessed by everyone, including the public, different organisations, regulators, etc. This will allow them to do what is necessary to reduce methane emissions.
