JPL
Careers
Education
Science & Technology
JPL Logo
JPL Logo
Climate Change
.

NASA Study Analyzes Four Corners Methane Sources

Aug. 15, 2016
The Four Corners region of New Mexico and Colorado. Numerous light-colored spots are sites of gas and oil development.
Credit: Flickr user Doc Searls, CC-BY-SA 2.0
An example of a methane plume observation by NASA's AVIRIS-NG spectrometer instrument. This plume was confirmed by JPL's ground team to be caused by a leaking pipeline. The leak was reported to the pipeline operating company, which shut down the pipeline and repaired it.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

A NASA-led team has analyzed a "hot spot" of methane emissions in the U.S. Four Corners region, quantifying both its overall magnitude and the magnitudes of its sources.

In an extensive airborne survey, a NASA-led team has analyzed a previously identified "hot spot" of methane emissions in the Four Corners region of the United States, quantifying both its overall magnitude and the magnitudes of its sources. The study finds that just 10 percent of the individual methane sources are contributing half of the emissions.

Scientists from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Caltech, both in Pasadena, California; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Boulder, Colorado; and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, used two JPL airborne spectrometers to identify and measure more than 250 individual sources of methane. The sources emitted the gas at rates ranging from a few pounds to 11,000 pounds (5,000 kilograms) per hour. Results are published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in a paper titled "Airborne methane remote measurements reveal heavy-tail flux distribution in Four Corners region." Christian Frankenberg of JPL and Caltech is the lead author.

As a greenhouse gas, methane is very efficient at trapping heat in Earth's atmosphere, contributing to global warming. In the Four Corners region, where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah meet, methane emissions are primarily associated with the production and transport of natural gas from coal beds. The odorless, colorless gas is difficult to detect without scientific instruments.

The experiment was a proof of concept for airborne detection of methane, according to Frankenberg. "That we could observe this distribution in a widespread geographical area and collect enough plumes to perform a statistical analysis was a pleasant surprise," he said.

A group of researchers including Frankenberg originally detected the Four Corners methane hot spot using past observations from a European satellite. Last year, he and JPL colleagues joined a campaign, led and funded by NOAA, to investigate the hot spot, called Twin Otter Projects Defining Oil/gas Well emissioNs (TOPDOWN). The campaign also included researchers from the University of Michigan. Each participating institution deployed its own suite of instruments.

The NASA spectrometers used in the study can identify certain atmospheric gases, including methane, by the way the gases absorb sunlight. NOAA provided airborne plume measurements that were used to calibrate and validate the NASA data.

NASA collects data from space, air, land and sea to increase our understanding of our home planet, improve lives and safeguard our future. NASA develops new ways to observe and study Earth's interconnected natural systems with long-term data records. The agency freely shares this unique knowledge and works with institutions around the world to gain new insights into how our planet is changing.

For more information about NASA's Earth science activities, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/earth

Full paper

Full paper

News Media Contact

Alan Buis

818-354-0474

alan.buis@jpl.nasa.gov

2016-210

Related News

Earth .

Joint NASA, CNES Water-Tracking Satellite Reveals First Stunning Views

Climate Change .

NASA Uses 30-Year Satellite Record to Track and Project Rising Seas

Weather .

Ranking Atmospheric Rivers: New Study Finds World of Potential

Earth .

NASA and Italian Space Agency Join Forces on Air Pollution Mission

Earth .

NASA-ISRO Science Instruments Arrive in India Ahead of 2024 Launch

Climate Change .

NASA Space Mission Takes Stock of Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Countries

Earth .

Removing Traces of Life in Lab Helps NASA Scientists Study Its Origins

Earth .

Dynamic NASA-Built Weather Sensors Enlisted to Track Tropical Cyclones

Earth .

Scientists Track Tropical Landslide Creeping Below an African City

Climate Change .

NASA-ISRO Earth Science Instruments Get Send-Off Before Moving to India

Explore More

Image .

Sea Level Visualization of Gulf Stream

Image .

SWOT Satellite's Land 'First Light'

Image .

SWOT Satellite's Sea Level 'First Light'

Image .

Mir Diamond Mine, Siberia

Image .

30 Years of Sea Level Rise

Image .

Chausey, French Channel Islands

Event April 20, 2023 .

Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) Mission

Image .

Poniente Almeriense, Spain

Image .

COWVR, TEMPEST Track Tropical Cyclone Mandous

Image .

Chaine des Puys, France

About JPL
Who We Are
Executive Council
Directors
Careers
Internships
The JPL Story
JPL Achievements
Documentary Series
Annual Reports
Missions
Current
Past
Future
All
News
All
Earth
Solar System
Stars and Galaxies
Subscribe to JPL News
Galleries
Images
Videos
Audio
Podcasts
Apps
Visions of the Future
Slice of History
Robotics at JPL
Events
Lecture Series
Team Competitions
Speakers Bureau
Calendar
Visit
Public Tours
Virtual Tour
Directions and Maps
Topics
JPL Life
Solar System
Mars
Earth
Climate Change
Exoplanets
Stars and Galaxies
Robotics
More
Asteroid Watch
NASA's Eyes Visualizations
Universe - Internal Newsletter
Social Media
Get the Latest from JPL
Follow Us

JPL is a federally funded research and development center managed for NASA by Caltech.

More from JPL
Careers Education Science & Technology Acquisitions JPL Store
Careers
Education
Science & Technology
Acquisitions
JPL Store
Related NASA Sites
Basics of Spaceflight
Climate Kids
Earth / Global Climate Change
Exoplanet Exploration
Mars Exploration
Solar System Exploration
Space Place
NASA's Eyes Visualization Project
Voyager Interstellar Mission
NASA
Caltech
Privacy
Image Policy
FAQ
Feedback
Site Managers: Veronica McGregor, Randal Jackson
Site Editors: Tony Greicius, Naomi Hartono
CL#: 21-0018