These data also show how smaller, dispersed sources of methane - largely undetected by existing satellites – in aggregate contribute to a significant share of total emissions across regions. A recent study observed the majority of U.S. methane emissions come from smaller sources that emit less than 100 kilograms of methane per hour.
Changes over time
The latest images show how a region's methane footprint can fluctuate significantly. For example, on July 5, 2024 the MethaneSAT instrument detected 203 tonnes of methane emitted per hour in the Amu Darya Basin in Turkmenistan. An observation over the same area collected October 15, 2024 revealed the locations of areas with high levels of methane appear to change.
