Daily Global Methane Super-Emitter Detection and Source Identification With Sub-Daily Tracking

Abstract

We use the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) satellite instruments to retrieve atmospheric methane enhancements with 750 m resolution. We show that the three VIIRS instruments in orbit uniquely enhance tracking of methane super-emission events with sub-daily coverage. 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 detection of methane super-emitters by TROPOMI followed by direct attribution to sources by VIIRS. This showcases the components needed to develop the first satellite system capable of daily, global, actionable, monitoring. The co-location also allows us to cross-validate our VIIRS methane enhancements with TROPOMI. Furthermore, we show how the 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.