Methane emissions detected in space for first time

Q.  Methane emissions from earth’s surface have been measured by an orbiting spacecraft for the first time. What is the chemical formula of methane?
- Published on 16 Jun 16

a. CH2
b. CH3
c. CH4
d. CH5

ANSWER: CH4
 
Methane emissions from a specific leaking facility on Earth’s surface have been measured by an instrument on board an orbiting spacecraft for the first time.
  • The observation has been done by the Hyperion spectrometer on NASA’s Earth Observing-1 (EO-1).
  • This is an important breakthrough in our ability to eventually measure and monitor emissions of this potent greenhouse gas from space.
  • Part of NASA’s New Millennium Program, EO-1 is an advanced land-imaging mission designed to demonstrate new instruments and spacecraft systems.
  • Launched in 2000, EO-1 has validated technologies for the Operational Land Imager used on the Landsat-8 satellite mission and future imaging spectrometer missions, and supported disaster-response applications.
  • The mission is managed by NASA Goddard.

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