Space-based observations of tropospheric ethane map emissions from fossil fuel extraction

Jared F. Brewer, Dylan B. Millet (), Kelley C. Wells, Vivienne H. Payne, Susan Kulawik, Corinne Vigouroux, Karen E. Cady-Pereira, Rick Pernak and Minqiang Zhou
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Jared F. Brewer: and Climate
Dylan B. Millet: and Climate
Kelley C. Wells: and Climate
Vivienne H. Payne: California Institute of Technology
Susan Kulawik: BAER Institute
Corinne Vigouroux: Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB)
Karen E. Cady-Pereira: Atmospheric and Environmental Research
Rick Pernak: Atmospheric and Environmental Research
Minqiang Zhou: Chinese Academy of Sciences

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Ethane is the most abundant non-methane hydrocarbon in the troposphere, where it impacts ozone and reactive nitrogen and is a key tracer used for partitioning emitted methane between anthropogenic and natural sources. However, quantification has been challenged by sparse observations. Here, we present a satellite-based measurement of tropospheric ethane and demonstrate its utility for fossil-fuel source quantification. An ethane spectral signal is detectable from space in Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) radiances, revealing ethane signatures associated with fires and fossil fuel production. We use machine-learning to convert these signals to ethane abundances and validate the results against surface observations (R2 = 0.66, mean CrIS/surface ratio: 0.65). The CrIS data show that the Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico exhibits the largest persistent ethane enhancements on the planet, with regional emissions underestimated by seven-fold. Correcting this underestimate reveals Permian ethane emissions that represent at least 4-7% of the global fossil-fuel ethane source.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52247-z

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