ESA Satellite Identifies Major Continuous Methane Emissions
The European Space Agency's (ESA) Sentinel-5P satellite has played a crucial role in detecting the largest continuous sources of methane emissions globally. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, poses significant risks for climate change, making the identification and mitigation of these emissions a priority.
According to findings published by ESA, a substantial number of these emissions originate from artificial sources linked to fossil fuel extraction. For instance, coal mining regions in China and Russia are responsible for releasing over two million tons of methane each year. Additionally, oil and gas production sites in Turkmenistan and the United States contribute approximately 3.5 million and 2.2 million tons of methane, respectively. Remarkably, a considerable amount of methane is also emitted from natural sources, particularly wetlands in South Sudan and Argentina.
The data collected is part of the Copernicus Earth observation program, which allows for the identification of significant methane leaks worldwide within just a few days. The current study focuses on sources that have emitted methane consistently over a four-year observation period. A global map illustrating these sources reveals that several of them are naturally occurring, as seen in the wetlands of South Sudan, where microbes generate large quantities of this potent greenhouse gas.
However, the study highlights the human-induced sources of methane emissions, which present opportunities for intervention. Many persistent methane sources in North America, the Middle East, Central Asia, and China are linked to oil, gas, and coal extraction activities. Notably, three of the ten largest methane sources identified are found in a single province in China, all related to coal mining. Other significant sources include landfills, wastewater treatment facilities, livestock farming, rice cultivation, and energy production sites. Only a limited number of these emissions come from Europe.
Addressing large methane leaks is essential due to the gas's higher potency as a greenhouse gas compared to carbon dioxide. Methane significantly contributes to global warming, although it does not persist in the atmosphere as long as carbon dioxide. In recent years, methane emissions have surged, posing challenges to efforts aimed at limiting global warming to below 1.5 degrees Celsius. Reducing methane emissions is therefore considered critical in the fight against climate change. The findings regarding continuous methane sources have been published in the journal Atmosphere, Chemistry and Physics.
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