NOAA’s GOES-16 satellite captured methane released from two pipeline valves during a planned blowdown event. The methane plumes are estimated to be confined to the lowest 300 to 600 meters in the atmosphere with a width of 2 to 8 kilometers, as estimated by ground-based Lidar observations.
Innovative use of NOAA’s geostationary satellites (GOES) has given scientists a new way to detect large methane emissions faster and more accurately. Results of a new experiment show the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI), the highly advanced camera flying on the GOES-16, GOES-18 and the newly launched GOES-19 satellites, is able to pinpoint leaks or venting of methane—a potent greenhouse gas—as often as every seven seconds. NOAA scientists say the experimental verification of GOES methane data will lead to faster, more complete data on the location—and amount—of methane emissions and successful mitigation efforts, when there are accidental leaks.
For the experiment, NOAA scientists teamed up with experts from Harvard University and Carbon Mapper, a nonprofit organization, to examine the potential use and benefit of this feature for tracking and quantifying methane emissions.
Methane, one of the most potent global greenhouse gases, poses serious challenges to climate stability. Despite its relatively short atmospheric lifespan compared to carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane's intense heat-trapping abilities—more than 25 times that of CO₂—make it a major contributor to global warming. Methane detected by GOES can come from both natural and human-made sources. Major contributors include: agriculture such as cattle farming and manure management, fossil fuel extraction from oil and natural gas fields and pipelines, and waste management in landfills where organic material decomposes without oxygen.
NOAA, in partnership with the Pipeline Research Council International, conducted the experiment on October 8, 2024, deploying methane-monitoring technologies across ground, air, and space to track a controlled methane release during a planned pipeline blowdown event. Often, facility operators depressurize pipelines by releasing methane for maintenance work.
“Knowing precisely how much methane was released was an overarching goal of this experiment,” said Shobha Kondragunta with NOAA’s Center for Satellite Applications and Research and a lead scientist on the project. “This technology demonstration instills confidence in our ability to monitor methane emissions and better respond to stakeholder needs,” she added.
Experts from NOAA’s Satellite and Information Service (NESDIS), Office of Atmospheric Research (OAR), Harvard University, Carbon Mapper, and Greenhouse Gas Satellite (GHGSat) collaborated to monitor the methane release using measurements from: GOES-19, GOES-16, GOES-18, GHGSat, aircraft-based GHG Analyzer, Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS-3), and ground-based instruments.
“Satellite data are often validated using in situ data, and this experiment provided an opportunity to evaluate methane fluxes observed from ground-based and aircraft-based instruments,” said Vanda Grubisic, director of OAR’s Global Monitoring Laboratory, whose team participated in the experiment. Knowing how much methane was released from this planned pipeline blowout as a “true reference point” was crucial for this experiment to succeed,” added Kondragunta.
This new space-based technology does have its limitations, however. GOES can detect methane only during the daytime, so leaks lasting days will have missing nighttime information. Moreover, GOES-19’s ABI and similar instruments can detect only very large methane leaks, measured in tens of tons per hour.
“The instrument is not sensitive enough to detect smaller plumes at the scale of tens of kilograms per hour, but has a unique capability for real-time monitoring of large leaks,” said Daniel Varon, research associate at Harvard University.
Despite the current constraints, NOAA’s GOES satellites’ methane detection has the capability to potentially support improved detection, reporting and mitigation of leaks, providing much-needed continuous observations—not just brief snapshots during the emissions.
GOES-19 is currently undergoing post-launch testing of its instruments and systems. Once operational in Spring 2025, it will serve as NOAA’s GOES East satellite.
Why This Matters
“This experiment provides a unique opportunity to deepen our understanding of the emissions, transport, and dispersion of chemical compounds in the atmosphere, while offering a critical chance to evaluate our emergency management models,” said Ariel Stein, director of OAR’s Air Resources Laboratory, whose team participated in the experiment. The test showcased GOES-19’s use in a special rapid scanning mode, capturing methane emissions data as frequently as every seven seconds.
These rapid scans not only highlight the potential of GOES-19’s ABI for detecting methane but also demonstrate how real-time data can inform climate research and response strategies. This capability pushes the limits of satellite-based monitoring, offering unprecedented insights into methane emissions as they happen.
GOES’s real-time, continuous monitoring capability is a significant advancement. Unlike traditional satellite systems with slower refresh rates, GOES’s mesoscale mode enables near-immediate detection of sudden methane releases. This capability is vital for prompt responses that can mitigate the environmental impact of unexpected leaks or emissions.
“Using GOES-19 to focus on the methane release region has allowed us to expand the capabilities of the ABI,” added Dan Lindsey, Program Scientist with NOAA’s GOES-R program.
By integrating various methane detection technologies, NOAA demonstrated that such experiments are essential and should become part of best practices for methane detection and quantification. “The combination of satellite, ground-based, and airborne measurements allows us to cross-validate our data and achieve a higher level of accuracy,” said Steve Brown, Program Leader of Tropospheric Chemistry at the Chemical Sciences Laboratory.
Broader Environmental and Societal Impacts
The significance of this experiment extends beyond technological innovation. Enhanced methane detection supports more accurate emissions inventories. By addressing longstanding gaps in methane detection and quantification, NESDIS is advancing international efforts focused on transparent and effective greenhouse gas management.
“This experiment’s success represents a great step forward, not only for NESDIS but for the development of a global, multi-tiered observation system for methane emissions,” said Riley Duren, CEO of Carbon Mapper. “It underscores the value of multi-scale, multi-sensor measurements to detect and quantify emissions, from infrequent large maintenance events to persistent leaks from a much larger population of smaller emitters.”