Exclusive Satellite Images Show Near Real-Time Methane Emissions
All through COP27, Bloomberg Green will exclusively publish new satellite images of methane releases around the world, in collaboration with emissions monitoring firm GHGSat Inc. Scientists say reducing the emissions of methane, which has 84 times the warming power of carbon dioxide during its first two decades in the atmosphere, is one of the fastest and cheapest ways to cool the planet.
Near Kirtland, New Mexico, USA, Nov. 6, 1:48 pm local time
A GHGSat satellite observed methane emissions near a coal mine Sunday afternoon in New Mexico that the emissions monitoring firm said was coming from a mine vent. The company estimated the release was spewing at a rate of 440.4 kilograms per hour.
Operational coal mines often vent methane to reduce the risk of explosion. Closed or abandoned coal mines can leak methane for years if they aren't properly sealed.
Coal mines releasing methane account for about 30% of the total emissions of the potent greenhouse gas coming from the energy sector. Halting intentional venting of methane and accidental leaks from coal mines and oil and gas infrastructure is viewed by scientists as some of the lowest hanging fruit in the fight against climate change.
GHGSat said they first detected emissions from the site through a demonstrator satellite in 2016. An official with the New Mexico Environment Department said Westmoreland Mining LLC is the operator of the facility near the plume. An official at Westmoreland didn't immediately respond to a request for comment after normal business hours.
Near Lucknow, India, Nov. 5, 1:28 pm local time
The satellite image was taken on Saturday and shows a plume of methane that GHGSat attributed to a landfill in India. The estimated emissions rate was
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