BRIDGING
THE GAP
MethaneSAT will find and measure methane emissions with unparalleled precision – including emissions that other satellites simply can’t see.
Some satellites can track methane on a global scale but can’t detect emissions from countless smaller sources responsible for much of the total. Others provide excellent data from known sites with larger emissions but can’t see beyond small areas.
With high precision and a wide view path, MethaneSAT will track not only the rate at which methane is being emitted and from where, but how those emissions are changing – making it easier to prioritize solutions for maximum benefit.
Each of these systems plays a valuable role. Together, they’re delivering crucial insight on a problem where good data is scarce.
MEASUREMENT
An imaging spectrometer will separate the narrow band within the shortwave infrared spectrum where methane absorbs light, enabling MethaneSAT to detect methane concentrations as low as three parts per billion.
That precision is what enables MethaneSAT to capture the small-source, wide-area emissions left out by current satellites, and gives us the ability to track methane back to its origin.
ANALYSIS
Unlike other satellites, MethaneSAT measures emission rates, revealing how much methane is escaping where. Our groundbreaking analytics will track emissions based on winds and atmospheric conditions, determining location and volume from individual point sources, as well as cumulative emissions across larger areas.
ACTION
MethaneSAT is specifically designed to catalyze methane reductions by creating unprecedented transparency. Officials and operators around the world will be able to find and fix problems faster, while stakeholders can see and compare progress against goals, commitments, and legal obligations.
Public data means anyone – regulators, investors, buyers and the public – will now be able to see and compare emissions results by company, country or production basin.