Tue, 04 Mar 2025

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 Why detecting methane is difficult but crucial work

From handheld to space-based, new methane detectors are making it easier to track the greenhouse gas.
Volunteers and activists in Washington DC are using industry-grade monitors to measure air quality, detecting methane leaks that can be hazardous to human health. In just 25 hours, they found 13 outdoor methane leaks exceeding safe levels, as well as leaks within homes. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas linked to asthma, with one in three children in tested homes already suffering from the condition. Researchers are also using handheld sensors and infrared cameras to detect methane emissions, which come from various sectors including fossil fuels, waste, and agriculture. Combining technologies can be effective, but trade-offs between cost and scale of analysis need to be considered. Satellites like Tanager-1 and MethaneSAT can pinpoint super-emitters and smaller emitters alike, providing high-resolution images of methane plumes. However, low light conditions, high latitudes, mountains, and offshore areas present challenges for satellite monitoring. Methane data is becoming more accessible through initiatives like the International Methane Emissions Observatory's Methane Alert and Response System (MARS), which uses satellite data to detect emissions and notify companies and governments. While only 1% of MARS alerts have led to responses so far, experts remain optimistic that better information will lead to action. Community-level monitoring has also shown its power in detecting air pollution and countering misinformation, with residents using data to advocate for change.
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