Syllabus: GS-III, Subject: Science and Technology, Topic: Space Technology, Issue: Measuring Methane emission
MethaneSat:
- Launched on SpaceX Falcon9 rocket, orbits Earth 15 times daily to track global methane emissions.
- Developed by Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Harvard University, and others.
- Aims for detailed methane data, including sources and trends.
- High-resolution infrared sensors detect methane down to three parts per billion.
- Wide-camera view identifies all emitter of all sizes.
- Data is public in near real-time, aiding stakeholders and regulators.
- Transparency holds governments and corporations accountable for methane reduction commitments.
| Prelims connect (Significance of measuring Methane):
· Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, second only to carbon dioxide, and contributes significantly to global warming. · Over a 20-year period, methane is 80 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. · Methane emissions also contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, which poses health risks and causes premature deaths. · Fossil fuel operations are the primary source of methane emissions caused by humans, accounting for about 40% of the total. |
