Google is making a map of methane leaks for the whole world to see
Google is making a map of methane leaks for the whole world to see
Google is making a map of methane leaks for the whole world to see::Google will use satellite data, AI, and its computing power to map methane emissions around the globe. The transparency marks a new era in climate accountability.
Fuck me, Google is doing something good.
They realized that biosphere collapse wouldn't be profitable in the long run.
They will fuck this up / drop it. History ensures this.
They remembered their old moto for a split second.
It's hard to trust in companies now. I bet the news in the following months is "Methane increasing green house gasses more than fossil fuel. Look at this colorful, interactive map from Google!"
But... Methane is fossil fuel?
Cane here to see how people were gonna spin this as a bad thing. Was not disappointed.
The visualization of the data, while interesting and informative, is created by pooping out a shitload more carbon. So it's like Leo using a private jet to fly to COP to tell everyone to fly less.
Aside from Googles claims that they’re carbon neutral and only use/purchase renewable, how much carbon is this going to create?
So it’s like Leo using a private jet to fly to COP
No. It's like Leo using a cheap little 20 lb drone to find a BP oil rig explosion, report it back to the company, and tell them to plug the leak.
The supposition currently is Russia is a huge emitter, especially Siberia as the permafrost melts.
These positive feedback mechanisms are the sleeping giant.
It will be very useful to track this over time.
Siberia isn't the permafrost melting - those emissions correlate to known Oil and Gas Wells, that mostly have been just left open, so that they can be used easily again. Melting permafrost is still releasing relatively little.
I work in O&G and my own firm just spent the last three years hunting for and patching pipe leaks by looking for methane emissions.
This is something they've been crowing about for a while, but its been a problem for decades that only got treated as something worth fixing when the cost of aerial reconnaissance dropped. Its a classic negative externality that energy companies simply don't want to acknowledge until the price is right.
If you think this is the only case in which lax regulation has left the lid off Pandora's box, don't ask what was up with the BP oil rig explosion or look to hard into the number of gas leaks polluting the Mississippi river or... really... ask any questions at all about the state of safety and soundness of O&G infrastructure.
Before you get excited, farts have on average about <0.01% methane. Its mostly hydrogen sulfide.
Party pooper
Just means I need to make more. I'm gonna get on the map, just you wait.
Finally some good news from Google!
The partnership between Google and the Environmental Defense Fund
I interpret that to mean that Google is getting paid for this work. They're not doing it out of kindness.
ETA: So, yes, PR BS.
Not as bullshit as you give it credit for. This is tech Google already needs to deploy for its generic roll in data collection / land surveying. Now they get to show off a degree of granularity, flex for the public so they can improve their image, AND provide a lucrative service to the cash-rich O&G industry looking for a cheap way to rack in tax credits.
It is more just convenient.
Google detecting farts from space.
Adds your fart map to your monthly gmaps timeline!
I think aside from Cattle a large source of Methane Emissions would be Flare Stacks from Pumpjack Locations. Technically it's illegal to burn off the excess natural gas, but the punishment is a fine.
GIS nerds unite!
But seriously, great way to see the technology used and data distributed. One day I can only hope to grasp a more complete understanding of the software and how to apply it to do shit like this.
Reminder: "The Nord Stream gas leak emitted up to 500,000 tons of methane : NPR"
That written looks way more impressive than 0.5 Mega tons, or 0.0005Gt, which is how global emissions are often noted.
Now I'm curious how it ranks in scale with other emissions
This is the best summary I could come up with:
A satellite that measures methane leaks from oil and gas companies is set to start circulating the Earth 15 times a day next month.
The partnership between Google and the Environmental Defense Fund, which in March is expected to launch its satellite known as MethaneSAT, marks a new era of global climate accountability.
Scientists say slashing emissions is one of the fastest ways to slow the climate crisis because methane has 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide over a decade.
"We think this information is incredibly valuable for energy companies, researchers, and the public sector to anticipate and mitigate methane emissions in components that are generally most susceptible," Maguire said.
The satellite launch comes as countries and oil and gas companies aim to drastically reduce methane emissions by 2030 to tackle the climate crisis.
During the UN climate summit in Dubai last year, companies accounting for 40% of global oil and gas production promised to nearly eliminate methane leaks from their own operations this decade.
The original article contains 736 words, the summary contains 167 words. Saved 77%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!
Curious to see how this will flame the "China making up all the bad gases" data simplification while it will omit everything else in that regard as they won't be its business.
The irony would be thick if this satellite were launched on a next-Gen methane fueled rocket.
(That is the trend now, kerosene and hydrogen are out, methane is in.)
Great, now I have to worry about this every time I order a curry
About to be the only reason anybody looks into North Dakota.
It would be simple for smart phone manufacturers to have an air quality tester built into the phone. Everyone being able to measure how crappy the air around them is and be notified when it’s unhealthy would push action on environmental care, reduction in cars etc
Consumer grade Air Quality Index devices give off crazy readings from things you wouldn't think they would. If a normal reading indoors is about 100, someone walking by with perfume on can spike it to 450 for a few seconds. Someone using a cleaning product to wipe down a table can spike it to 250. Someone cooking meal can spike it to 400.
None of those are things we're looking to change, but would show up in your readings you're proposing.
Google of course, being one of the biggest polluters on Earth, knows that Real Recognizes Real.
Creating and parsing this data set would also create a shitload more carbon emissions and necessitate building more datacenters, wouldn't it?
Nothing Google dies excites or even interests me
Idk, I'm anti google, degoogled phone, no google connection like accounts or using they're search engine but this is a net positive.
They've not earned my respect but large platforms doing this stuff could open peoples eyes to world issues.
It'll be shut down within 2yrs and forgotten. Just like their Mars & Moon Maps and a million other things.
Sounds good for the world. Curious to know what else is being captured.
Yep, with Google it's 10% good and 90% evil profits.
"we can hide your leak for a modest subscription fee", probably
Let's not delude ourselves. Google is totally getting something out of this. Not sure if they just want some good press for a change or if it's something else though.
That's 10% better than most though
Don’t be evil more than 90% of the time.