The German Aerospace Center recently reported on plans to launch a methane LiDAR satellite in 2014 that will have the ability to monitor compliance with the Kyoto Protocol – worldwide. Leveraging work done with a helicopter – mounted methane LiDAR the group is confident that they can scale up the technology.
Methane has 25 times the effect of carbon dioxide in creating global warming. The presence of methane in the atmosphere causes the laser signal to be absorbed at a specific known wavelength. The satellite will have the ability to send and receive a laser signal 50 times per second and cover 25,000 km per hour – incredible.
This will be an important remote sensing platform.
