Scientists have for the first time used satellite data to detect a major offshore leak of the potent greenhouse gas methane, according to peer-reviewed research.

The findings add a crucial tool to an expanding space-based arsenal for pinpointing previously invisible methane plumes from the oil and gas industry. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Fossil fuel operations globally emitted about 120 million tonnes of the planet-warming gas in 2020, nearly one-third of all methane emissions from human activity, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/climate-talks-test-global-resolve-on-warming-485504">Climate talks test global resolve on warming</a>

The new study in the journal Environmental Science and Technology Letters identified a plume from an oil and gas production platform in the Gulf of Mexico that spewed some 40,000 tonnes over a 17-day period in December. &nbsp;

The platform, near Campeche in southern Mexico, is in one of the country's biggest oil producing fields.

"Our results demonstrate how satellites can detect methane plumes from offshore infrastructure," senior author Luis Guanter, a professor at Valencia Polytechnic University, said in a statement.&nbsp;

"It opens the door to systematic monitoring of industrial emissions from individual offshore platforms."

Satellite-based methods for spotting methane leaks over land have developed rapidly in the last few years, training an uncomfortable spotlight on regulators and industry. &nbsp;&nbsp;

But equivalent techniques have been lacking for leaks from offshore oil and gas operations, which account for about 30 per cent of global production.

Watch |&nbsp;New Zealand's new climate draft aims at countering Methane emissions

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/new-zealands-new-climate-draft-aims-at-countering-methane-emissions-486387/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Huge short-term potential

Up to now, ocean water's capacity to absorb short-wave infrared radiation has limited the amount of reflected light reaching space-based sensors.&nbsp;

Guanter and colleagues overcame this problem with a new method for measuring solar radiation bouncing off the water's surface, called Sun-glint observation mode.

Methane is responsible for roughly 30 per cent of the global rise in temperatures to date.&nbsp;

While far less abundant in the atmosphere than CO2, it is about 28 times more powerful as a greenhouse gas on a century-long timescale. Over a 20-year time frame, it is 80 times more potent.

Methane lingers in the atmosphere for only a decade, compared to hundreds or thousands of years for CO2.&nbsp;

This means a sharp reduction in emissions could shave several tenths of a degree Celsius off of projected global warming by mid-century, helping keep alive the Paris Agreement goal of capping Earth's average temperature increase to 1.5 Celsius, according to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/we-cant-drill-our-way-to-energy-security-479958">We can’t drill our way to energy security</a>

Last year saw a record jump in the atmospheric concentration of methane, US government scientists reported in April.

Methane is generated by the production, transport and use of fossil fuels, but also from the decay of organic matter in wetlands, and as a by-product of livestock digestion in agriculture.

At last year's COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, more than 100 nations agreed under the Global Methane Pledge to reduce emissions 30 per cent by 2030. But several major methane emitters including China, Russia, Iran and India&nbsp;failed to sign.

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Scientists have for the first time used satellite data to detect a major offshore leak of the potent greenhouse gas methane, according to peer-reviewed research.

Scientists have for the first time used satellite data to detect a major offshore leak of the potent greenhouse gas methane, according to peer-reviewed research. The findings add a crucial tool to an expanding space-based arsenal for pinpointing previously invisible methane plumes from the oil and gas industry. Fossil fuel operations globally emitted about 120 million tonnes of the planet-warming gas in 2020, nearly one-third of all methane emissions from human activity, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Also read | Climate talks test global resolve on warming The new study in the journal Environmental Science and Technology Letters identified a plume from an oil and gas production platform in the Gulf of Mexico that spewed some 40,000 tonnes over a 17-day period in December. The platform, near Campeche in southern Mexico, is in one of the country's biggest oil producing fields. "Our results demonstrate how satellites can detect methane plumes from offshore infrastructure," senior author Luis Guanter, a professor at Valencia Polytechnic University, said in a statement. "It opens the door to systematic monitoring of industrial emissions from individual offshore platforms." Satellite-based methods for spotting methane leaks over land have developed rapidly in the last few years, training an uncomfortable spotlight on regulators and industry. But equivalent techniques have been lacking for leaks from offshore oil and gas operations, which account for about 30 per cent of global production. Watch | New Zealand's new climate draft aims at countering Methane emissions Huge short-term potential Up to now, ocean water's capacity to absorb short-wave infrared radiation has limited the amount of reflected light reaching space-based sensors. Guanter and colleagues overcame this problem with a new method for measuring solar radiation bouncing off the water's surface, called Sun-glint observation mode. Methane is responsible for roughly 30 per cent of the global rise in temperatures to date. While far less abundant in the atmosphere than CO2, it is about 28 times more powerful as a greenhouse gas on a century-long timescale. Over a 20-year time frame, it is 80 times more potent. Methane lingers in the atmosphere for only a decade, compared to hundreds or thousands of years for CO2. This means a sharp reduction in emissions could shave several tenths of a degree Celsius off of projected global warming by mid-century, helping keep alive the Paris Agreement goal of capping Earth's average temperature increase to 1.5 Celsius, according to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). Also read | We can’t drill our way to energy security Last year saw a record jump in the atmospheric concentration of methane, US government scientists reported in April. Methane is generated by the production, transport and use of fossil fuels, but also from the decay of organic matter in wetlands, and as a by-product of livestock digestion in agriculture. At last year's COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, more than 100 nations agreed under the Global Methane Pledge to reduce emissions 30 per cent by 2030. But several major methane emitters including China, Russia, Iran and India failed to sign. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Climate: Offshore methane gas leak spotted from space

Portugal is also facing the consequences of climate change, the country recorded soaring temperatures in the month of May, the highest since 1931 and due to this most of the country is facing severe drought.

Portugal: Highest average temperature in May, droughts to become more severe

In pics: Former coal hub Nottingham aims to become Britain's first net zero city

A massive wildfire is ravaging southern Spain. Warm weather & adverse winds are causing the blaze. 200 firemen are battling the fire.

Wildfire ravages southern Spain: Warm weather & adverse winds causing the blaze

In pics: Japanese superfood weed Okinawa mozuko moving towards climate resilience

Today is World ocean's day and to mark this day International Marine conservation organizations conducted a sea cleanup operation in the Greek island of Ithaca only to retrieve tons of marine debris from the seabed.

World Oceans day 2022: Greek Island cleans up Marine debris

Through a video conferencing today, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched a global initiative 'Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE) Movement'. He said technology can be a great supporter and mission puts collective duty on us.

LiFE Movement: Technology can be a great supporter, says Indian PM Narendra Modi

Global leaders have arrived in Stockholm for the United Nations climate conference. The two-day conference will mark 50 years since the UN held its first environment meeting.

Stockholm climate conference: Ukraine overshadows climate meet

The Russia-Ukraine conflict is leaving countries scrambling for gas. Now, the impact of fossil fuels on the climate shows that the LNG industry is worsening climate emissions.

Fossil fuel impact on the climate: LNG industry worsens climate emissions

West Asia is witnessing dust and sandstorms, flights have been delayed, schools have been closed and thousands have been hospitalized. On The West Asia Post, Ghadi Francis tells you more!

The West Asia Post: Sandstorms engulf West Asia

A new Israeli study has now found that climate change is already causing a considerable intensification of a winter storms in the southern hemisphere.

New study claims climate change intensifying winter storms

Zimbabwe and its allies are pressing on allowing ivory trade during the African elephant conference. Delegates attending the conference in Zimbabwe argued that there are certain downsides to having too many elephants and this includes increasing human animal conflict resulting in loss of human lives.

Africa: Zimbabwe & allies press to allow ivory trade, delegates raise concern

Drought is threatening Iran's iconic river and authorities are being blamed for inept action. Watch how climate crisis is affecting daily lives.

Drought threatens Iran's iconic river as climate crisis affects daily lives

A cold snap has hit Brazil. Snowfall is likely to continue and temperatures to drop further. Possible snowfall may also occur in northern cities.

Snowfall to continue & temperatures to drop further as cold snap hits southern Brazil

A new study has revealed striking revelations as it claims that Pollution decreases hurricanes. Will this study open new horizons of research? Watch this report.

Study: Pollution decreases hurricanes

Iraq has been most vulnerable to climate change as it has suffered 3 years of drought. Iraq's water reserves are running below critical levels.

Iraq is most vulnerable to climate change as it has suffered 3 years of drought

Intense flames are ripping through Siberia yet again amidst this Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered regional officials to deal with these forest fires adding that last year's situation could not be allowed to repeat.

Putin tells local authorities to do better on fighting Siberian fires

The impact of climate change is being felt around the world. In South Asia, record-breaking temperatures are being reported in most areas. Watch this report to know more.

Heatwave continues to plague South Asia as the region reels under soaring temperatures

Thousands of residents of mountain towns in New Mexico were told to evacuate as fierce winds drove the largest active US wildfire towards their drought-parched mountain valley.

Raging wildfire prompt evacuations in New Mexico

In order to shield the nearby communities from the risk of wildfires, Tingle forests in Western Australia will undergo controlled burning, however a group of botanists have expressed their displeasure and are asking for these over 400-year-old trees to be preserved.

Tingle trees undergo prescribed burns, botanists ask 400-year-old trees to be preserved

The last two decades have been recorded hottest since the pre-industrial era. Ocean warming is rising worldwide as major greenhouse gases continue to rise.

Ocean warming rising worldwide as major greenhouse gases continue to rise

Various parts of India and Pakistan recorded their highest average temperatures in the month of April and the heat is expected to stretch into the month of May. For more analysis, we're joined by Imran Khalid, Director Governance with WWF Pakistan and Shruti Sinha, a Manager, Policy and Outreach for Chintan (Environmental Research and Action Group).

Climate change: Extreme heatwave grips South Asia, temperature soars in India & Pakistan

Ngoc Anh is very familiar with the jungle and especially the trees that grow there. It wasn't always so legal and green for him though...

From an illegal logger to what?!

Due to human activity last year, huge areas of tropical rainforests were burned or hacked down for cattle and crops. Researchers say climate change itself is making it harder to reverse losses.

2021: 11 million hectares tropic cover lost

An extreme heatwave has gripped India and Pakistan, with no relief in sight south Asia is dealing with furnace-like temperatures. As per reports, 5 Indian states will witness their 'hottest summer ever'.

Heatwave in South Asia: 5 Indian states to witness their 'hottest summer ever'

India is the world's second-largest wheat producer and now extreme heatwave in India has impacted India's wheat harvest. This is raising questions about how will India go ahead with wheat exports.

India: Severe heatwave impacts India's wheat harvest, snags export plans

India has reported four heat waves since the beginning of summer and its capital New Delhi is now dealing with a fire that has been raging on for 30 hours now at the Bhalswa landfill in the northern part of the capital. Fire officials are still trying to control the blaze and a thick cloud of smoke has covered the area.

Four heat waves devastate northern India, blaze in New Delhi's Bhalswa landfill worsens

A study of 135 countries by S&P says 4% of the global GDP could be lost by 2050 due to climate change. 10-18% of South Asia's GDP is at risk and low-income nations will see 3.6 times greater GDP loss.

Study: Low-income nations to see 3.6 times greater GDP loss

Rainfall shortage, human activities and Climate Change are responsible for the drought that has marred Chile for a decade now. Watch this report to know more.

Climate change causes extended drought as Chile faces its worst drought in history

Fighting climate change is a global concern for all nations. EU Commission Chief is in India and watch this report to know more about India, EU's common climate challenges.

Fighting climate change: India, EU's common climate challenges

In a unique way to raise awareness about global deforestation, workers painted the trees blue outside the Peabody Essex Museum in Massachusetts to celebrate the Earth Day.

Why are they painting the trees blue? | Earth Day

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