Page 2 - Spec Tech Vol 1 Issue 07
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Methane 'super-emitters' on Earth
spotted by space station experiment
Image Credit: Space.com
A powerful eye in the sky is helping Earth's climate," Nelson added. "EMIT is proving
scientists spy "super-emitters" of methane, to be a critical tool in our toolbox to measure this
a greenhouse gas about 80 times more potent greenhouse gas — and stop it at the
potent than carbon dioxide. NASA's Earth source."
Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation EMIT is an imaging spectrometer designed to
instrument, or EMIT for short. EMIT has identify the chemical fingerprints of a variety of
been mapping the chemical composition of minerals on Earth's surface. The ability to spot
dust throughout Earth's desert regions methane as well is a sort of happy accident.
since being installed on the exterior of
the International Space Station (ISS) in "It turns out that methane also has a spectral
July, helping researchers understand how signature in the same wavelength range, and
airborne dust affects climate. that's what has allowed us to be sensitive to
methane," EMIT principal investigator Robert
That's the main goal of EMIT's mission. But Green, of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory
it's making another, less expected (JPL) in Southern California, said during a press
contribution to climate studies as well, conference on Tuesday afternoon.
NASA officials announced on Tuesday
(Oct. 25). The instrument is identifying Green and other EMIT team members gave some
huge plumes of heat-trapping methane gas examples of the instrument's sensitivity during the
around the world — more than 50 of them Tuesday media call. For example, the instrument
already, in fact. "Reining in methane detected a plume of methane — also known as
emissions is key to limiting global warming. natural gas — at least 3 miles (4.8 kilometers)
This exciting new development will not only long in the sky above an Iranian landfill. This
help researchers better pinpoint where newfound super-emitter is pumping about 18,700
methane leaks are coming from, but also pounds (8,500 kilograms) of methane into the air
provide insight on how they can be every hour, the researchers said.
addressed — quickly," NASA Administrator That's a lot, but it pales in comparison to a cluster
Bill Nelson said in a statement. of 12 super-emitters EMIT spotted in Turkmeni-
"The International Space Station and stan, all of them associated with oil and gas
NASA's more than two dozen satellites and infrastructure. Some of those plumes are up to 20
instruments in space have long been miles (32 km) long, and, together, they're adding
invaluable in determining changes to the about 111,000 pounds (50,400 kg) of methane
to Earth's atmosphere per hour.
Space Explorer 2022 2
