How satellites detect methane leaks from individual facilities in orbit
In short: From tracking ocean photosynthesis to detecting invisible leaks in remote pipelines, satellite technology provides a vantage point impossible to achieve from the ground. By measuring how the atmosphere interacts with light and energy, these instruments allow us to monitor the planet's vital signs in real-time.
Earth Observation (EO) relies on diverse satellite-based imaging equipment to monitor the planet's physical, chemical, and biological systems. Optical instruments record reflected sunlight across various wavelengths, while radar instruments use microwave pulses to measure surface roughness. Radar is particularly valuable because it can operate through clouds and darkness. Additionally, altimeters use microwave or laser pulses to measure land and sea height with centimeter-level accuracy, and atmospheric instruments detect specific spectral wavelengths to identify gases like oxygen or carbon dioxide.
The UK is a major player in this field, re-joining the Copernicus programme on 1 January 2024. This European Union Space Programme, overseen by the European Commission and delivered by the European Space Agency (ESA) and EUMETSAT, provides access to unique data and contracts worth hundreds of millions. The UK Space Agency also chairs the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) for 2025, a global body responsible for coordinating how we observe the Earth from space.
Practical applications of this data are profound. For instance, satellites monitor 55 Essential Climate Variables (ECVs), over half of which depend on space data. In April 2023, scientists at the University of Leeds used GHGSat to identify a methane leak in the UK from orbit. This was the first time a UK methane emission was detected and mitigated from space. Other missions include ESA's Biomass, which uses a P-band radar to see through dense leaves to map forest carbon, and the upcoming FLEX mission, which will observe fluorescent light from plants to study photosynthesis efficiency.
These technologies are essential for climate action. For example, tracking ocean photosynthesis is critical because phytoplankton—though only 1-2% of total plant carbon by weight—fix about 40% of the global carbon locked away each year. By combining these diverse sensors, the UK and ESA provide a global picture of environmental change to inform rapid, evidence-based policy.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Earth from Space: ESA and the UK Space Agency
- Also: Earth Observation
- Also: Earth Day: The Power of Earth Observation – UK Space Agency blog
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