The new technique could have significant implications for climate change predictions.
A University of Alaska Fairbanks-led research team has developed a way to use satellite images to determine the amount of methane being released from northern lakes, a technique that could help climate change modelers better account for this potent greenhouse gas.
By using synthetic aperture radar, or SAR, researchers were able to find a correlation between “brighter” satellite images of frozen lakes and the amount of methane they produce. Comparing those SAR images with ground-level methane measurements confirmed that the satellite readings were consistent with on-site data.
SAR data, which were provided by UAF’s Alaska Satellite Facility, are well-suited to the Arctic. The technology can penetrate dry snow, and doesn’t require daylight or cloud-free conditions. SAR is also good at imaging frozen lakes, particularly ones filled with bubbles that often form in ice when methane is present.
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Image via University of Alaska Fairbanks
