Share this @internewscast.com

Google and environmental group Environmental Defense Fund on Wednesday unveiled a partnership to expose sources of climate-warming emissions from oil and gas operations that will be detected from space by a new satellite.

MethaneSAT will launch next month, one of several satellites that are being deployed to monitor methane emissions across the globe to pinpoint major sources of the invisible but potent greenhouse gas. It is a partnership led by EDF, the New Zealand Space Agency, Harvard University and others.

Data from the satellite will be available later this year, and Google Cloud will provide the computing capabilities to process the information.

Google also said it will create a map of oil and gas infrastructure, using artificial intelligence to identify components like oil tanks. MethaneSAT’s data on emissions will then be overlayed with the Google map to assist in understanding which types of oil and gas equipment tend to leak most.

The information will be available through Google Earth Engine, a geospatial analysis platform, later this year. Earth Engine is free to researchers, nonprofits and the news media.

“We think this information is incredibly valuable for energy companies, researchers and the public sector to anticipate and mitigate methane emissions in components that are generally most susceptible,” Yael Maguire, vice president of geo sustainability at Google, said on a call with reporters.

The launch comes as governments are cracking down on the short-lived greenhouse gas source and over 50 major state-owned and independent oil and gas operators ranging from ExxonMobil to Saudi Aramco have pledged at the COP28 climate summit to reduce their methane leaks to near zero by the end of this decade.

The United States is among the biggest methane-emitting countries, and has proposed mandatory measures to stem leaks from oil and gas operations. A new rule by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency would allow the public to report large methane leaks to federal regulators if they have access to methane detection technology.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
California woman hit by small plane during crash landing on soccer field

Shocking Plane Crash: California Woman Struck During Emergency Landing on Soccer Field

A woman in California was hit by a small aircraft that crash-landed…
Celebrities from Prince Harry to Steve Bannon call for ban on AI 'superintelligence.' What is it?

Why Celebrities Like Prince Harry and Steve Bannon Are Demanding a Ban on AI Superintelligence

(NEXSTAR) – An open letter urging the cessation of progress in “superintelligence”…
Texas couple arrested after body of special needs son, 26, discovered buried in backyard

Texas Couple Detained Following Discovery of Their 26-Year-Old Special Needs Son’s Burial in Backyard

A couple from Texas has been taken into custody following the discovery…
King David hotel kicked a woman out of a main suite — JD Vance wanted it

King David Hotel Evicts Woman from Main Suite to Accommodate JD Vance

Veep’s Kingly Mideast move A well-connected acquaintance is currently in Jerusalem, mingling…
Immigration agents conducting sweep on NYC's famed Canal Street confronted by protesters

Immigration Agents Met with Protests During Canal Street Operation in NYC

NEW YORK (AP) — A planned immigration enforcement operation on Manhattan’s well-known…
The 22-day government shutdown is now the second-longest in US history

Historic Standoff: Unpacking the 22-Day Government Shutdown and Its Impact

The longest government shutdown on record spanned 35 days during the first…
Bernie-Endorsed Maine Senate Candidate's Campaign Implodes As Dems in Disarray Hits Fever Pitch

Maine Senate Race Turmoil: Bernie-Backed Candidate Faces Campaign Collapse Amid Democratic Discord

Though the Maine primary is still months away, slated for June 9,…
Baby humpback whale meets tragic end off New Jersey coast in suspected propeller strike

Tragic Loss: Young Humpback Whale Falls Victim to Suspected Propeller Accident off New Jersey Coast

A young humpback whale, found stranded near Long Beach Island, New Jersey,…
Family fights for father's release from ICE custody after Crestwood arrest, details conditions at Broadview facility

Family Battles for Father’s Freedom: Inside the Harrowing Conditions at Broadview ICE Facility After Crestwood Arrest

CHICAGO (WLS) — Mariana Cabrera recounted the tense hours her family endured,…
Woman charged with abandoning newborn child at NYC subway stop

Newborn Found Abandoned at NYC Subway: Woman Faces Charges

Authorities in New York City have apprehended a woman accused of leaving…
National Guard Chicago news: Judge to consider extension of order temporarily blocking National Guard in Chicago area

Judge to Decide Fate of National Guard Deployment in Chicago: Temporary Block Extension Under Review

The unfolding story in Chicago has taken a significant turn, as a…
Australian prime minister's plane makes emergency landing in St. Louis after leaving Washington

Australian Prime Minister’s Plane Makes Safe Emergency Landing in St. Louis Following Departure from Washington

On Tuesday night, a flight carrying Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had…