Methane is the second most important contributor to climate change, after CO2. But relative to CO2, sources are easier to detect from space, and easier to stop. With a time constant of about one decade, reduction of methane sources can slow down climate change. At present, only the larger sources can be detected from space. With satellites that observe with a higher spatial resolution, many more small sources can be located and quantified, leading to more sources being reduced.
In this project, another step in the reduction of spatial resolution is investigated. It will be input for a feasibility study for a constellation of small satellites, yielding observations for both commercial and scientific applications.