El factor geográfico: cómo las condiciones ambientales determinan el control del metano desde el espacio

The report examines the 'geography factor' in satellite methane monitoring, identifying that approximately 30% of global coal, oil, and gas infrastructure is located in regions where environmental conditions hinder data collection. It details how factors like persistent tropical cloud cover, low winter sunlight in high latitudes, and mountainous terrain create 'difficult' observation zones. The authors argue for a multi-tiered observation system that integrates satellites with aircraft, drones, and ground-based sensors to overcome these geographic limitations and support the Global Methane Pledge's goal of reducing emissions by 30% by 2030.

• Environmental factors such as cloud cover, wind speed, surface brightness, mountainous terrain, and seasonal solar availability can obstruct or reduce the accuracy of satellite methane detection, with impacts varying by sensor type and location.
• Approximately 30% of global coal, oil, and gas extraction infrastructure is situated in regions classified as 'moderate' or 'difficult' for satellite observation due to environmental constraints.
• One third of global coal production occurs in regions where satellite detection is hindered; Indonesia is particularly challenging, with 84% of its national coal production in areas affected by persistent clouds and rugged terrain.
• About 29% of global onshore oil and gas production is located in regions with difficult observation conditions, including parts of Canada, Russia, and the United States.
• Specific regional challenges include low solar elevation in high latitudes (Russia, Canada, Argentina), persistent cloud cover in the tropics (Indonesia, Ecuador, Colombia), and terrain roughness in mountainous areas (Central Asia, Western South America, Western Balkans).
• High-resolution point-source sensors may be able to detect methane plumes between broken clouds or in small flat areas of mountainous terrain, whereas low-resolution area-mapping sensors are more severely impacted by these same conditions.
• To achieve comprehensive monitoring, the report recommends a 'multi-tiered observation system' that combines satellites with ground-based sensors, aircraft, and drones to fill gaps caused by environmental limitations.

APA

Shannon, S., & Binietoglou, I. (2025). El factor geográfico: cómo las condiciones ambientales determinan el control del metano desde el espacio. Ember. https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2025/03/ES-The-geography-factor.pdf

Chicago

Shannon, Sarah, and Ioannis Binietoglou. El factor geográfico: cómo las condiciones ambientales determinan el control del metano desde el espacio. Ember, 2025. https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2025/03/ES-The-geography-factor.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Shannon |first1=Sarah |last2=Binietoglou |first2=Ioannis |title=El factor geográfico: cómo las condiciones ambientales determinan el control del metano desde el espacio |publisher=Ember |date=18 March 2025 |url=https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2025/03/ES-The-geography-factor.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{shannon2025factor, author = {Shannon, Sarah and Binietoglou, Ioannis}, title = {{El factor geográfico: cómo las condiciones ambientales determinan el control del metano desde el espacio}}, institution = {Ember}, year = {2025}, month = mar, url = {https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2025/03/ES-The-geography-factor.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }