Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 11, 2025
05:00
Measuring Dissolved Methane in Aquatic Ecosystems Using An Optical Spectroscopy Gas Analyzer
Published on: July 26, 2024
597
Global Identification of Solid Waste Methane Super Emitters Using Hyperspectral Satellites.
Xin Zhang1, Joannes D Maasakkers1, Javier Roger2
1SRON Space Research Organisation Netherlands, Leiden 2333 CA, The Netherlands.
Environmental Science & Technology
|August 19, 2025
Summary
High-resolution satellite imagers quantified methane emissions from 38 global landfill sites. This study highlights the importance of facility-level data for accurate climate change mitigation strategies.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Climate Science
- Remote Sensing
Background:
- Solid waste is a significant source of anthropogenic methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
- Mitigating methane emissions from landfills is crucial for addressing global climate change.
- Accurate quantification of landfill methane emissions is essential for effective emission reduction strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify methane emissions from 38 high-emitting landfill sites globally using multiple high-resolution hyperspectral satellite imagers.
- To compare satellite-derived emission estimates with existing inventories and assess the capabilities of different satellite instruments.
- To investigate emission patterns and their potential links to landfill operations.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from three high-resolution (30-60 m) hyperspectral satellite imagers: EMIT, EnMAP, and PRISMA.
- Quantified methane emissions from 38 strongly emitting disposal sites in urban methane hotspots worldwide.
- Compared satellite-derived emission estimates with the Climate TRACE inventory and analyzed multimonth observational data.
Main Results:
- Total observed methane emissions from the 38 sites amounted to 230 ± 15 t h⁻¹, representing 5% of reported global solid waste emissions.
- Satellite-derived estimates exceeded the Climate TRACE inventory by a factor of 1.8, with detection at only 9 of the inventory's 20 highest-emitting sites.
- EMIT and EnMAP demonstrated better methane detection sensitivity compared to PRISMA.
- Multimonth observations revealed emission patterns potentially correlated with facility operations.
Conclusions:
- High-resolution hyperspectral satellite imagers provide consistent and valuable methane emission estimates from landfills.
- Facility-level data is critical for accurate assessment and mitigation of landfill methane emissions.
- These advanced satellite instruments have the potential to detect 35-60% of global landfill emissions, significantly enhancing methane monitoring and mitigation efforts.
