EMIT Mission Exceeds Expectations in Tracking Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Space
By Pierre Herubel
TechTimes Staff Writer
NASA’s Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) has become an invaluable tool in detecting and mapping greenhouse gas emissions from the International Space Station.
Initially launched in July 2022 with the primary aim of mapping minerals in arid regions, EMIT has since exceeded expectations. According to NASA, the mission 's capabilities have been instrumental in tracking methane plumes.
Robert O. Green, JPL senior research scientist and EMIT’s principal investigator, revealed that the satellite has measured an alarming number of methane plumes around the globe.
What adds to EMIT’s allure is its unexpected capability in pinpointing emissions of greenhouse gases, especially methane. Despite methane detection not being part of its primary mission, the mission has successfully identified over 750 emission sources since August 2022, ranging from far-reaching locations to persistent sources over time. Andrew Thorpe, a research technologist on the EMIT science team, said, “It has exceeded our expectations,” expressing surprise at the instrument’s performance.
Given methane’s potency in driving climate change, tracking its sources becomes essential. EMIT distinguishes itself by identifying emissions from different scales, ranging from tens of thousands of pounds per hour to mere hundreds, enabling the identification of “super-emitters,” sources that disproportionately contribute to total emissions.
What makes EMIT stand out is its wide coverage area, orbiting approximately 250 miles above the Earth’s surface, capturing data over expansive arid regions previously beyond the reach of airborne instruments. It has also detected methane plumes in thinkable regions making it easier for researchers to analyze the environmental effects of these emissions.
The observations and maps processed by the EMIT science team are publicly available, providing a valuable resource for scientists, organizations, and the public as they continue their efforts to address greenhouse gas emissions.
The findings of the mission have been published in the journal Science Advances confirming EMIT’s significance in monitoring greenhouse gases and informing global climate change efforts.
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