There is a powerful new satellite in the sky to monitor the emission of methane (CH4), one of the key gases that change the human-induced atmosphere.
The spacecraft, known as the Iris, can map the plumes of CH4 into the atmosphere up to a resolution of only 25 meters.
This makes it possible to identify individual resources, such as specific oil and gas facilities.
Iris was launched on September 2, by Canada-based GHGSET company Montreal.
The firm hopes to have a 10-space galaxy by the end of 2022. This is its pathfinder.
The image at the top of this page is Iris’ “first light” – his first attempt to understand the significant emissions of methane.
The observation was made on Turkmenistan, in an area where large plumes of oil and gas infrastructure have been noted.
The discovery, overlaid on a standard aerial image, shows concentrations of methane in the air above normal background levels.
“I will let you know that when the data came down there was a big loss from the team because we can see that the spectroscopy was there, there was a resolution – everything should be like that,” recalled GHGSET CEO Statafen German.
“We still need to work on the calibration, which will later allow us to test the inspection threshold and the final operation of the satellite. But as an image of the first light – by any standard it is exceptional,” he told BBC News.
The global warming potential of methane is 30 times that of carbon dioxide, so it is imperative that any unnecessary releases be blocked or reduced.
Man-made resources are many and varied, including not only oil and gas facilities, but also agriculture, landfills, coal mines, and hydro-electric dams.
Already, GHGSET is working with tors operators, regulators and other interested parties to characterize these emissions using a prototype satellite called the 2016 Lear. Iris’ orbital presence provides an additional stream of data for the company that it now intends to interpret at the new British analytics hub to be set up in Edinburgh and London next week.
“Everything we do in the UK has world-class capabilities,” said Dr G Garmin, “not only in the analyzes, but also in the spacecraft system in which we are interested.
“The UK is a jurisdiction where climate change is important to people, and we want to be where people are willing to participate in the development of an enterprise that wants to address it worldwide.”
Image copyright pyrite
ESA
Artwork: Sentinel-5P creates daily world maps of specific gases in the atmosphere
GHGSET has recently strengthened its relationship with the European Space Agency, which operates the European Union’s Sentinel-5P satellite.
Due to the global daily snapshot of this gas, methane is also monitored. But at a resolution of 7 km, its data is much less resolved than that of an iris, or indeed a clare that senses the atmosphere at a scale of 50 m.
Still, keep it all together, and they form something of a dream team to investigate CH4.
“They (Sentinel-5P) can see the whole world every day. We can’t do that. But we can see individual features. They can’t do that. So, really, it’s a weird combination, and it’s for a construction. Makes. A very good relationship with the European Space Agency that I think we are just beginning to grow into something much bigger. “
GHG’s next satellite, Hugo, is in testing and is expected to launch later this year.
The company recently received additional financing of an additional 30 million (m 23 million), enabling Hugo to build three spacecraft advancing into orbit.
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