Tracking the Greenhouse Gas Methane, Earth Information Center Videos

  • Released Thursday, April 18, 2024
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Universal Production Music: "Passing By" by Miguel D'Oliveira, "Simple Story" by Fred Dubois, and "Whispers of Hope" by Sam Connelly,

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NASA data is changing the way the landfills are operated and monitored.

Landfills are necessary part of waste management in the United States. With over 2,600 landfills throughout the country however, the amount of methane emitted from these sources is immense, even outpacing oil and gas in some regions. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is now using NASA data for monitoring and enforcing the Clean Air Act established in 2020. This is a pivotal moment for the EPA as new data and technology, led by NASA, is revolutionizing how the agency does its job.

With new data from NASA (EMIT, AVRIS), the EPA is better able to identify the biggest landfill emitters that are out of compliance, prioritize action, and enforce regulations that help keep our air clean and our climate in balance. The landfill industry is taking notice. Some operators are taking action to build better infrastructure that keeps them in compliance and saves them money in the long run.

Methane emissions from landfills is equivalent to nearly 23 million gasoline-powered vehicles driven for one year. Not only does methane mitigation help the climate, it also has health and financial benefits.

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NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

This page was originally published on Thursday, April 18, 2024.
This page was last updated on Thursday, April 18, 2024 at 3:50 PM EDT.

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