Satellite Data for Environmental Monitoring

Orbiting #methane "speed cameras" are catching #oilandgas companies in the act. Satellite images are so clear it's possible to see methane #emissions at the individual asset level. At least two dozen high-resolution satellites are expected to be in orbit by the end of this year. The images sent back are crystal clear and leave little doubt about WHO is responsible for the leaks. These missions will usher in a new era of climate transparency and will help keep oil and gas companies accountable 👏 For example, the image below is of a methane release observed on 5th Feb near Exxon Mobil's Big Eddy Unit 156 that Exxon initially failed to disclose to state officials. After Bloomberg shared the imagery with Exxon, the company notified state regulators. Exxon blamed the omission on "human error" and said "someone forgot to file a form" 🙄 While fines and enforcement vary, companies increasingly face reputational risks and potential loss of business if their operations are seen as contributing more than peers to the climate crisis. Methane has 86x the warming power of carbon dioxide during its first two decades in the atmosphere. Halting emissions of the greenhouse gas could do more to slow climate change in the near-term than almost any other single measure. Facility-level information on emissions is hugely valuable because it's directly actionable. The methane observations are also exposing flaws in decades-old reporting approaches used by companies and government agencies that have typically underestimated emissions. For example, satellite data published earlier this year shows that in the US, methane emissions from oil and gas operations from 2010-2019 were 70% higher than amounts reported by the Environmental Protection Agency. This year could see a wave of new reports on operator leaks, as new orbitals increase the coverage and frequency of observations. For operators unable to halt their emissions, that may mean a loss of credibility, fees or trouble insuring future projects. Fossil fuel companies are running out of places to hide. #energy #sustainability #energytransition #emissionsreduction

🌍 NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration, in collaboration with data from the World Meteorological Organization, merges satellite observations, advanced models, and immense computing power to monitor aerosols in our atmosphere. These tiny, invisible solid or liquid particles — including black carbon (orange/red), sea salt (cyan), dust (magenta), and sulfates (green) — travel vast distances, affecting air quality, human health, climate, and visibility far from their source. 🔹 In South America, black carbon from wildfires burning in the Amazon rainforest drifts across the continent. 🔹 Over the Atlantic, massive plumes of dust from Northern Africa journey westward toward the Americas, influencing ecosystems, weather, and even hurricane formation. This striking visualization, powered by NASA’s Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) model and informed by WMO’s authoritative climate data, delivers realistic, high-resolution weather and aerosol insights. These data streams fuel #AI innovation and help provide customized environmental predictions — critical tools for #climateresilience and disaster preparedness #EW4ALL. ➡ A reminder: Every particle tells a story about the planet’s interconnected systems — and our shared responsibility to protect them

🌍 Earth’s MRI scan has begun and a new era of nature monitoring is here European Space Agency - ESA’s Biomass satellite is now in orbit and the first images are spectacular. Using powerful P-band radar (capable of seeing through clouds and even dense jungle canopies), it’s mapping something we've never seen from space before: The woody biomass of our forests, the trunks, branches and stems that hold most of the carbon. Why this is a game changer: ✅ First-of-its-kind radar ✅ Global forest scans every 6 months ✅ Carbon mapping on a planetary scale ✅ Even revealing what’s beneath the forests, sand and ice Already it’s uncovered: 📍 The winding Beni River in Bolivia, deep within the Amazon rainforest 🌋 Volcanoes hidden beneath the canopy in Brazil and Indonesia’s Halmahera 💧 Wetlands and savannas in Gabon and ancient riverbeds in the Sahara ❄️ And even glacier flows and buried valleys in Antarctica’s Transantarctic Mountains It’s like giving the planet an MRI scan. And it’s doing something we urgently need, measuring what matters in the fight to protect and restore nature. Over the next 5 years, Biomass will help answer some of the biggest questions in climate and nature science: ⤷ How much is being lost? ⤷ Where is nature bouncing back? ⤷ Where is carbon stored in forests? This goes beyond just forests and will help us with climate stability, smarter policies and the data we need for a nature-positive future. 🔍 Should we be measuring biomass alongside GDP? #NatureTech #Biomass #Forests #NatureRestoration #EarthObservation 🎥 European Space Agency

Have you ever thought about how much methane leaks cost the oil and gas industry—not just financially, but in terms of reputation and regulatory trust? Monitoring emissions isn't as simple as it seems, especially when many systems today only capture emissions data at intervals, leaving gaps and missed readings. Yet, with regulators pushing harder for transparency and real-time data, something has to change. One approach that’s gaining traction is the use of IoT for continuous emissions monitoring. Why? It’s cost-effective, adaptable, and can cover vast and varied terrain—a perfect fit for industries like oil and gas, which need to keep tabs on emissions across expansive and remote sites. By using IoT devices alongside AI, companies can now track where and when emissions are occurring, account for environmental factors like wind speed, and pinpoint leaks in real-time. This isn’t just tech for tech's sake; it’s about showing investors and regulators that the industry is taking real, measurable action to cut emissions and meet methane reduction goals. The numbers make it clear: The continuous emissions monitoring market is set to expand by billions in the coming years, with demand driven by this regulatory shift and the need to avoid hefty fines and potential lawsuits. By adopting a system that doesn’t break the bank, industries can stay compliant while protecting their brand integrity and bottom line. In a world where both consumers and regulators expect accountability, continuous emissions monitoring could be the shift that keeps businesses not only on the right side of the law but also in the good graces of their stakeholders. Are you with IoT or NOT?

Oil & Gas: I’ve operated it. Transformed it. Now investing in the next wave of innovation. I’ve spent 16+ years in the energy industry—on oil fields in Iraq, in control rooms during start-ups & shutdowns, and in boardrooms shaping global Net Zero strategies across 30+ countries. Oil & gas has fueled economies, secured energy for billions, and built the modern world. But it’s also responsible for nearly 15% of global energy-related GHG emissions - and far more with end-use combustion. If we’re serious about climate action and energy security, this sector cannot be a bystander. It must become a climate deep tech innovator. Decarbonizing Oil & Gas: Where Do We Start? All scopes matter: • Scope 3 (80–90% of total): Emissions from burning fuel (diesel, petrol, LPG, etc.) • Scope 1 (10–15%): Operational emissions during extraction, transport, and refining • Scope 2 (~1–2%): Electricity used in operations Let’s focus on Scope 1— because here lies the low-hanging fruit: METHANE Why Methane Matters ? - 28x more potent than CO₂ - makes up 45% of oil & gas operational emissions - India is the 4th largest methane emitter globally - 70% of methane leaks can be fixed with existing, cost-effective tech - 4.5M+ abandoned wells globally emit 0.4M tons of methane annually, comparable to the yearly emissions of 9 million cars - VC funding for methane detection has doubled in 5 years (~$20M/year) So, Which INNOVATIONS are proving methane isn’t a hard problem? 1. Leak Detection & Repair (LDAR) WellRx (India): AI, drones, and sensors catch leaks in real-time 2. Satellite Monitoring GHGSat (Canada) runs the largest fleet of satellites directly tracking methane globally. 3. Pneumatic Device Replacements QEnergy(US): solar based controllers to replace pneumatic devices at scale. curbing silent leaks. 4. Zero Routine Flaring & Venting ONGC (India): rolling out mini-LNG plants, already slashing remote field flaring up to 80% But That’s Just the Start. Scope 3 Is the Bigger Battle. Scope 1 is where methane dominates. Scope 3 decides the future of fuels. The big shift? Reimagining what we burn. - EVs: 1 in 5 new cars sold globally in 2024 - Biofuels: India hit 12% ethanol blend—aiming 20% by 2027 - Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) : Production 2× YoY in 2024—but still <1% of jet fuel - Green Hydrogen: $50B+ invested in 2024 to decarbonize steel, shipping, industry The Bottom Line ? Decarbonizing this sector is not just about climate—it’s about economic competitiveness, and energy security. Building or backing deep tech innovation for oil & gas? Let’s connect ! Sophia Nadur Scott Masters Meeta Narsinghani Kalyan Ram Madabhushi Philippe Micone Rajiv Sikka Arun Kumar Singh Shrikant M Vaidya Dagmar Mekking Snehal Patel #OilandGas #DeepTech #Innovation

Earlier this month, a powerful earthquake struck Myanmar — and thanks to the Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite, we now have detailed insights into how the ground shifted during the event. Using radar interferometry, Sentinel-1 captured subtle deformations in the Earth’s surface, revealing up to one metre of ground displacement caused by the quake. The image below shows a false-colour interferogram, where each coloured fringe represents about 2.8 cm of ground movement. These maps are generated by comparing radar scans taken before and after the earthquake, helping scientists precisely measure how tectonic forces reshape our planet. This is a powerful example of how Earth observation satellites are essential tools not only for rapid response but also for advancing earthquake science. They allow researchers to understand fault dynamics, refine tectonic models, and ultimately improve preparedness and risk mitigation for future events. Sentinel-1 is part of the Copernicus programme, and like all of ESA’s Earth observation missions, it reflects our commitment to using space-based technology to protect lives and infrastructure on the ground. Satellite data are critical for understanding our changing planet — not just in climate and ecosystems, but also in seismic risk, natural hazards, and resilience: https://lnkd.in/dbU6Ng2B

#Satellites sitting more than 22,200 miles (35,700 kilometers) above the Earth’s surface have been capturing storms and weather data for decades. Now, scientists are essentially #hacking the data coming back for another purpose: spotting methane emissions. The breakthrough is the latest in a series from a group of young scientists affiliated with Harvard University, the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) and the United Nations’ International Methane Emissions Observatory that have rapidly expanded researchers’ ability to spot leaks using a wide range of satellites not originally designed to track methane. The innovation could have far-reaching consequences for fossil fuel operators unable or unwilling to halt major #methane releases because it allows researchers to observe emissions every five minutes and estimate the total amount emitted. The approach, which uses shortwave infrared observations from the NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES), can detect large-emitting events of around tens of metric tons an hour or larger in North America. The new approach enables near continuous, real-time coverage and contrasts with other satellites currently used to detect methane, which are in low-Earth orbit and snap images as they circumnavigate the globe at speeds of around 17,000 miles per hour, only allowing scientists to estimate emission rates. “GOES can detect brief releases that the other satellites miss, and it can trace detached plumes back to their sources,” said Daniel Varon, a research associate at Harvard's Atmospheric Chemistry Modeling Group who first proposed the concept in 2022. “It can also quantify total release mass and duration, rather than just instantaneous estimates of emission rate.” The new technique is already being used by geoanalytics firms and scientists to quantify major emissions events in North America. Kayrros used the approach to estimate that a fossil gas pipeline spewed about 840 metric tons of methane into the atmosphere after it was ruptured by a farmer using an excavator. The short-term climate impact of the event was roughly equal to the annual emissions from 17,000 US cars. Read more in my latest for Bloomberg Green through the gift link below: https://lnkd.in/gVjYnNYE

How to Access Open-Source Hyperspectral Satellite Data Hyperspectral imaging is revolutionizing how we monitor Earth's ecosystems - from detecting subtle plant stress to mapping minerals, pollution, and coastal changes. But where can you actually get this powerful data? I created this one-page visual guide to help researchers, students, and environmental professionals discover free and open-source hyperspectral satellite data and start exploring the invisible spectrum. Key Missions Covered: ~ EnMAP (Germany): Coastal and terrestrial ecosystem monitoring ~ PRISMA (Italy): Earth observation for environmental and agricultural uses ~ HySIS (India): High-resolution spectral analysis ~ DESIS (Germany/USA): Mounted on the ISS, great for land analysis ~ AVIRIS (NASA): Airborne hyperspectral sensor with global datasets ~ Hyperion EO-1 (NASA): Legacy satellite, still valuable archive ~ EMIT (NASA): Focused on mineral dust detection Tools for Processing: Use platforms like SNAP, QGIS, ENVI, and Python libraries (e.g., spectral, rasterio, geemap) to visualize and analyze hyperspectral data. Where to Access the Data: ~ EnMAP - https://lnkd.in/e-KfxGzj ~ PRISMA - https://lnkd.in/eznCNS6G ~ HySIS (ISRO Bhuvan platform) - https://lnkd.in/ejA8Xy3m ~ DESIS via Teledyne Brown - https://lnkd.in/eQpeY2te ~ AVIRIS - https://lnkd.in/edun__ra ~ NASA’s Earthdata portal (Hyperion, EMIT) - https://lnkd.in/eeMGhgAH Hyperspectral data is complex, but the insights it offers are invaluable -especially in environmental monitoring, agriculture, and climate science. This guide is designed to help you get started. Let me know if you’ve used hyperspectral data or are planning to! #HyperspectralImaging #RemoteSensing #Geospatial #EarthObservation #OpenData #ClimateTech #GIS #EnvironmentalScience #ResearchTools #DataScience

I have come across news about Verra approving its first digitally verified carbon credits under a Digital MRV pilot, and it signals something far more structural than faster credit issuance. This is not merely a technology update. It is the quiet digitisation of carbon market infrastructure. Digital Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (DMRV) allows project data to be transmitted, validated and issued through fully digital systems. That shifts carbon credits from periodic, paper-based verification cycles to near real-time, traceable climate performance data. For the African continent, if carbon markets are becoming digital by design, African countries must therefore not position themselves as just passive users of external platforms. We must integrate digital MRV into national carbon registries, Article 6 frameworks, and sovereign climate finance systems from the outset. We’ve seen this operationalized: Comoros piloted high-frequency issuance for solar projects, and the COMESA ASCENT program is currently testing digital architecture across the continent. Some may argue that Africa already has digital carbon registries. That is true. But a digital registry records and tracks issued credits to prevent double counting. A digital MRV system goes deeper; it digitises how emissions data is captured, transmitted, validated and verified before credits are even issued. One is a ledger. The other is performance infrastructure. I would also say this is ESG data 2.0. Automated reporting, remote verification, reduced lag times and stronger traceability are not just operational upgrades; they are the architecture of trust in climate markets. Institutional investors and corporate buyers will increasingly demand digital integrity, interoperability and auditable data flows. The question is whether Africa should build digital carbon infrastructure early or retrofit governance later. My view is retrofitting is always more expensive than building the foundation right the first time. Are we investing enough in the "digital plumbing" of our markets, or is the focus still too much on the credits themselves? #CarbonMarkets #DigitalMRV #ClimateFinance #ESGData #Article6 #SustainableFinance

As magma rises beneath a volcano, it releases increased amounts of carbon dioxide that seeps through the soil. Trees absorb this extra CO2, enhancing their photosynthesis and causing their leaves to become noticeably greener and more lush. This biological response acts as a subtle but reliable indicator of underground volcanic unrest, often appearing weeks or months before other signs like seismic activity intensify. Researchers have harnessed satellite technology to monitor these changes remotely. Using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), which measures plant health through reflected light, instruments aboard satellites such as NASA’s Landsat 8 and the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-2 can detect greening patterns across wide areas. This approach proves especially valuable for remote or hazardous volcanoes where installing ground sensors is challenging. Studies at Mount Etna in Italy revealed 16 clear spikes in both CO2 levels and vegetation greenness over two years, directly correlating with magma movements. Similar observations near Costa Rica’s Rincón de la Vieja volcano, validated through airborne measurements and leaf sampling, confirm the phenomenon. By integrating tree-based signals with traditional monitoring, scientists can potentially issue earlier warnings, improving evacuation times and saving lives in volcanic regions where millions reside. This innovative method transforms forests into natural biosensors, offering a cost-effective complement to existing systems and deepening our understanding of volcanic processes. Source: NASA Earth Science News Team / ScienceAlert (NASA-Smithsonian collaboration and Guinn et al. study).