In a bid to combat climate change, Google is launching a high-tech initiative to track down methane emissions from oil and gas plants across the globe. Their weapon of choice? A cutting-edge satellite set to orbit the Earth at a height of 300 miles, completing 15 laps each day.
Methane, notorious for its role in exacerbating global warming, is a primary target for researchers seeking to curb greenhouse gas emissions. While agriculture and waste disposal contribute significantly to methane levels, Google's focus will be squarely on the oil and gas industry, notorious for its methane emissions resulting from routine operations.
Partnering with the Environmental Defense Fund, a renowned global environmental organization, Google's ambitious project harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to process data captured by the satellite. The ultimate goal? To create a comprehensive methane map pinpointing leaks in oil and gas infrastructure worldwide.
But here's the catch: while Google vows to make this data accessible to regulators and governments, they won't be pointing fingers directly at offending companies. Instead, they aim to empower authorities to enforce necessary changes.
Despite the lack of international regulations on methane emissions, the European Union has taken steps to address the issue, including proposals to mandate leak repairs in the oil and gas sector. Google's initiative, however, transcends borders, with its methane map set to be freely available on Google Earth Engine, providing real-time insights into methane hotspots across the globe.
This isn't the first time satellites have been deployed to monitor methane levels. In 2017, the European Space Agency launched Tropomi, a similar instrument designed to detect trace gases like methane in the atmosphere. While existing efforts have highlighted major methane sources, Google's project aims to fill in the gaps and provide a more comprehensive picture of global methane emissions.
Despite the challenges in pinpointing diffuse methane sources, like those from agriculture, experts believe satellites are invaluable tools in the fight against climate change. "Satellites are perfect for tracking down the huge, massive culprits," says Peter Thorne, a professor of physical geography.
As the world grapples with rising methane levels, Google's satellite initiative represents a significant step towards identifying and mitigating emissions from one of the planet's most potent greenhouse gases.