Connecting The Dots Project
Methan leak detected from space
A significant methane leak in the UK, a highly potent greenhouse gas, has been detected from space for the first time.
This leak, observed over a three-month period, originated from a gas main operated by Wales and West Utilities and had the potential to power 7,500 homes for a year.
This satellite detection capability demonstrates the importance of rapidly identifying methane leaks to prevent their environmental impact. Methane has 28 TIMES the global warming potential of carbon dioxide (CO2) and is responsible for approximately 30% of the increase in global temperatures.
The leak was initially discovered in March through satellite imagery analysis conducted by the University of Leeds, in collaboration with GHGSat, a company specializing in satellite technology. Wales and West Utilities became aware of the leak when a member of the public reported the smell of gas. The exact cause of the leak remains unclear, but methane leaks in gas pipelines are not uncommon, particularly in aging infrastructure.
The satellite detection method has highlighted the potential for rapid methane leak identification. Currently, methane leaks are typically detected through challenging on-the-ground surveys, a difficult task given the extensive network of pipelines and sites. Jean-Francois Gauthier, senior VP for strategy at GHGSat, emphasized the unique value of satellites in this context, as they can provide frequent, cost-effective, and non-invasive monitoring of methane emissions. GHGSat operates nine high-resolution satellites in their constellation, orbiting at 500km overhead, which are capable of detecting gases with a 25m resolution.
Prof Grant Allen, lecturer in atmospheric science at the University of Manchester, told the BBC: "There is still some work to do to fully validate the precise magnitude of such emissions estimated by satellites like GHGSat, but the capability is already proving super useful for identifying where big (preventable) sources may be."
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Sources:
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-66811312