diff --git a/datasets/goes-ch4plume-v1.data.mdx b/datasets/goes-ch4plume-v1.data.mdx index b54c4ec47..e889b774a 100644 --- a/datasets/goes-ch4plume-v1.data.mdx +++ b/datasets/goes-ch4plume-v1.data.mdx @@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ layers: **Data Type:** Research
**Data Latency:** Updated annually - Methane is a relatively short-lived greenhouse gas responsible for about one third of greenhouse gas radiative forcing since pre-industrial times ([IPCC AR6, 2021](https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009157896)), making the reduction of atmospheric methane emissions an urgent priority to slow near term climate change. Satellites with instruments sensitive to methane have unique capabilities to pinpoint methane sources in support of climate action. However, almost all of the instruments are in low Earth orbit and can only image an area of interest as frequently as once per day, at best. This dataset, in contrast, is from a geostationary satellite, which is able to capture imagery for the same location as often as every 5 minutes. Since geostationary satellites are positioned farther away from the Earth’s surface, they are only able to detect very large methane emission events, but provide the unique opportunity to track the full evolution of a methane release. + Methane is a relatively short-lived greenhouse gas responsible for about one third of greenhouse gas radiative forcing since pre-industrial times ([IPCC AR6, 2021](https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009157896)), making the reduction of atmospheric methane emissions an opportunity to slow near-term temperature rise. Satellites with instruments sensitive to methane have unique capabilities to pinpoint methane sources and potentially inform mitigation efforts. However, almost all of the instruments are in low Earth orbit and can only image an area of interest as frequently as once per day, at best. This dataset, in contrast, is from a geostationary satellite, which is able to capture imagery for the same location as often as every 5 minutes. Since geostationary satellites are positioned farther away from the Earth’s surface, they are only able to detect very large methane emission events, but provide the unique opportunity to track the full evolution of a methane release. Presented in the GHG Center is a collection of large methane release events detected by the U.S. Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 16 (GOES-16), starting in April 2019. Included are the methane plumes highlighted in [Watine-Guiu et al. 2023](https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2310797120), including releases originating from three different block valve stations during April-May 2019 along the El Encino La Laguna natural gas pipeline in Durango, Mexico, as well as several other detections across North America. Additional plumes will continue to be added as data becomes available. This data demonstrates the unique value of geostationary satellite instruments for detecting extreme and short-lived methane emission events, quantifying emissions from variable point sources, and precisely determining source locations.