Google has announced a groundbreaking partnership with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) to launch the MethaneSAT satellite, a critical initiative aimed at mapping methane pollution and oil and gas infrastructure from space.
This ambitious project aims to precisely locate methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas, and identify their sources, potentially leading to significant reductions in these harmful leaks. The MethaneSAT satellite launch, scheduled for next month, represents a significant step forward in environmental monitoring and climate change mitigation.
Methane, the primary component of natural gas, is responsible for approximately 30% of the global warming experienced to date. It is 80 times more effective than CO2 at trapping heat in the atmosphere over a 20-year period, although it has a shorter lifespan. This makes tackling methane emissions crucial for immediate climate change impact. Traditional methods have significantly underestimated methane leaks from oil and gas infrastructure, prompting the need for advanced solutions like the MethaneSAT satellite launch.
The MethaneSAT satellite will orbit Earth 15 times daily, surveying methane levels over major oil and gas regions worldwide. Powered by algorithms from Google Cloud, this initiative will enable EDF to monitor methane emissions over time. This collaboration builds on Google’s existing work with EDF, which previously involved equipping Street View cars with sensors to map methane leaks. Google’s expertise in AI and mapping will be instrumental in creating detailed maps of methane pollution and fossil fuel infrastructure, complementing the data from the MethaneSAT satellite.
The MethaneSAT satellite launch is not just a technical achievement but also a collaborative effort with significant financial backing. The New Zealand Space Agency is partnering with EDF, marking MethaneSAT as the country’s first government-funded space mission. Additionally, the Bezos Earth Fund contributed $100 million to support the MethaneSAT project. Set to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the satellite’s data will be crucial in providing a clearer global picture of methane emissions.
This data, expected to be available later this year and more comprehensively by the end of 2025, will be shared publicly through MethaneSAT’s website and Google Earth Engine. Researchers and policymakers can access this information to make informed decisions and strategies to combat methane emissions. The MethaneSAT satellite launch marks a pivotal moment in environmental advocacy and technological innovation, showcasing how collaboration between tech giants and environmental organizations can lead to significant advancements in combating climate change.
https://www.theverge.com/2024/2/14/24071100/google-methane-satellite-ai-map-climate-change