Methane Clips: September 6, 2023

 

LA's Methane Emissions Decrease Slower Than Forecasted. According to Mirage News, “Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, 80 times more potent at warming the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. In 2014, a California law required statewide methane emissions to be cut by 40 percent by 2030 from 2013 levels. Currently, the local natural gas utility estimates that methane emissions in the Los Angeles area are decreasing at a rate of about 5.8 percent per year. However, a new Caltech study shows that methane emissions in the region are decreasing at a much slower pace: 1.6 percent per year over the past decade. The findings indicate that more significant methane reduction efforts are needed to meet target levels.” [Mirage News, 9/6/23 (=)]

 

Tiny Satellites Use AI To Sniff For Methane Leaks On The Ground. According to Space.com, “California-based Earth-observation startup Orbital Sidekick has released the first images from its new constellation of planet-watching satellites that promise to take methane-leak monitoring from space to a new level with the help of AI.  Orbital Sidekick's three satellites, launched earlier this year, are fitted with hyperspectral sensors that analyze 500 bands of light across the electromagnetic spectrum. Hyperspectral imaging offers 20 times better sensitivity compared to other systems currently in orbit, the company said in a statement. This sensitivity enables Orbital Sidekick to "chemically fingerprint" Earth's surface with a resolution of 26 feet (8 meters), revealing sources of contamination in unprecedented detail.” [Space.com, 9/5/23 (=)]