The Hub Talks: UK Gas Leak Detected from Space: An Unexpected Discovery Leading to Large ImpactThe Hub Talks:

Speaker: Dr Emily Dowd is Research Fellow in Greenhouse Gas Modelling at the University of Leeds. She graduated from her PhD at the University of Leeds in 2024 and her thesis focused on analysing methane across difference spatial and temporal scales. Emily’s research focuses on using satellite data and chemical transport models to investigate changes in atmospheric methane. She is currently working on a project which models clumped isotopes of methane in a global 3D chemical transport model. Alongside her research, Emily co-founded an outreach programme called SatSchool. SatSchool aims to introduce key Earth Observation concepts to 11-15 year olds by providing ready-made outreach materials which researchers can take into schools. This project has reached over 7000 students across the UK and continues to provide outreach in schools. Emily was a visiting researcher at the Science Hub in 2023.

Abstract: In spring 2023 a methane leak from a faulty gas pipeline was detected from space and successfully mitigated for the first time in the UK. The leak was discovered by GHGSat satellites while measuring methane emissions from a landfill near Cheltenham, UK. The leak was then confirmed through ground-based mobile surveys, providing the first validation of GHGSat’s emission estimates for an active gas leak. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that is 82 times more potent than carbon dioxide over 20 years and is a major contributor to climate change. Approximately 60% of global emissions come from human activity, including oil and gas operations. This discovery is a prime example of how satellite data can play a crucial role in mitigating the human impact on climate change.

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