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Copernicus application will also display methane clouds

6/27/25

The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service launched the Methane Hotspot Explorer app in February. It allowed monitoring of methane plumes. Now, however, the app can identify significant methane emissions, as well as display the shape and extent of plumes. CAMS methane emission estimates are included in the International Methane Emissions Observatory, which is part of the United Nations Environment Programme.

Photo:Copernicus

Based on observations from the Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument on board the Copernicus Sentinel-5 Precursor satellite, the application visualizes how atmospheric conditions affect the shape and transport of methane. The observed amount of methane in the surrounding area identified by elevated mixing ratios is used to estimate the source's emission rate.

The new update also adds a wind layer to the app, allowing users to predict the movement of detected plumes. The app provides basic data, including date, time, country, coordinates, emission rate, and a unique detection ID from the CAMS archive. This dataset is very useful for assessing potential impacts associated with methane plumes.

Richard Engelen, Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service representative, says that the Methane Hotspot Explorer application represents real progress that has been made in recent years in improving our monitoring of methane emissions in the atmosphere. The application will continue to develop and will soon offer monitoring of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions CO2MVS.

The CAMS TROPOMI methane cloud dataset contributes to the United Nations Environment Programme's International Methane Emissions Observatory. IMEO certainly plays a key role in the global effort to reduce methane emissions. The goal can often be achieved more quickly and cost-effectively than reducing carbon dioxide emissions in the short term.

Source:Copernicus