Last Update: 04/05/2026 at 2:50 PM EST
Satellite Data Reveals Methane Loss
Coverage from The Guardian, American Chemical Society, and others
Articles
5
Latest Article
03/23
Active Days
32
Executive Summary
Satellite data revises stratospheric methane loss estimates and exposes major 2025 methane leaks, sharpening climate and ozone chemistry models
- Satellite observations from 2007-2010 estimate stratospheric methane loss at about 49.8 Tg a year
- The satellite-derived loss is higher than chemistry-based climate model estimates
- Researchers say the result suggests models may miss or understate methane removal processes
- Better observational constraints could improve forecasts of atmospheric composition and ozone recovery
- Carbon Mapper and UCLA found 4,400 significant methane plumes in 2025
- The top 25 oil and gas methane leaks were dominated by Turkmenistan
- The largest detected 2025 leak in Texas emitted 5.5 tonnes of methane per hour
Quick Facts
- What: Satellite data revised methane loss estimates and exposed mega-leaks
- Where: Globally, including Turkmenistan, Texas, and the stratosphere
- Why: To improve methane budgets, climate projections, and ozone chemistry models
- Who: Researchers at UCLA and other satellite monitoring teams
- When: 2007 to 2010 for loss estimates, 2025 for leak detections
Coverage Timeline: 32 Days
Featured Article
UCLA's Stop Methane Project reported 2025 satellite detections of global methane mega-leaks, dominated by Turkmenistan and including a major Texas source emitting 5.5 tonnes per hour.
Additional Articles
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Scientists and policymakers alert to methane mega leaks detected by satellites in 2025, urging rapid maintenance upgrades to curb near term warming.
Qiang Fu and Cong Dong estimate stratospheric methane loss from satellite observations in 2007-2010, affecting the global methane budget.
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Greenpeace USA reported 2025 methane hotspots in Texas, linking the largest detected U.S. emissions to Energy Transfer gas plants near the Permian Basin.
Researchers using Carbon Mapper remote sensing data identified 25 2025 methane mega-leaks, led by Turkmenistan-based facilities emitting over 10 metric tons per hour.