A

Daily global methane super-emitter detection and source identification with sub-daily tracking

Abstract

We use the Shortwave Infrared bands of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) satellite instruments to retrieve atmospheric methane enhancements with 750m resolution. We show that the three VIIRS instruments in orbit uniquely enhance the currently-employed capabilities of tracking methane super-emission events. The VIIRS instrument on Suomi-NPP and the TROPOMI instrument on Sentinel-5 Precursor have overpasses that are only a few minutes apart, which allows for direct identification of methane super-emitter sources by VIIRS as first detected by TROPOMI. The co-location also allows us to cross-validate our VIIRS methane enhancements with TROPOMI. Furthermore, we show how the global multiple overpasses per day by VIIRS and Sentinel-3 give a unique insight in the timeline of emissions and can be vital in understanding and attributing transient emissions.

Authors 6

  1. Space Research Organisation Netherlands

    Affiliation as printed

    SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research , Leiden , The Netherlands

    SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research, Leiden, The Netherlands

  2. Space Research Organisation Netherlands

    Affiliation as printed

    SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research , Leiden , The Netherlands

    SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research, Leiden, The Netherlands

  3. United Nations Environment Programme · Universitat Politècnica de València

    Affiliation as printed

    International Methane Emission Observatory , United Nations Environment Program , Paris , France

    Research Institute of Water and Environmental Engineering (IIAMA) , Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) , Valencia , Spain

    International Methane Emission Observatory, United Nations Environment Program, Paris, France

    Research Institute of Water and Environmental Engineering (IIAMA), Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), Valencia, Spain

  4. United Nations Environment Programme

    Affiliation as printed

    International Methane Emission Observatory , United Nations Environment Program , Paris , France

    International Methane Emission Observatory, United Nations Environment Program, Paris, France

  5. Space Research Organisation Netherlands

    Affiliation as printed

    SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research , Leiden , The Netherlands

    SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research, Leiden, The Netherlands

  6. Space Research Organisation Netherlands · Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Earth Sciences , Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam , Amsterdam , The Netherlands

    SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research , Leiden , The Netherlands

    Department of Earth Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research, Leiden, The Netherlands

Cited by 1 stored of 1

1 result

No patents citing this paper on Lens.org (checked 2026-10-11).

References 27