Events

Please join us for a Special Seminar with Prof. Steven Wofsy from Harvard University on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, at 4 pm in Room 48-316. 
 
Abstract Title:
Inferring emissions of methane from human-driven sources using high resolution remote sensing

In this talk I will discuss the problem of quantifying emissions of methane from industrial sources using remote sensing. We will summarize the motivation for making these measurements and the associated technical challenges very briefly, then focus on recent data from the new MethaneAIR imaging spectrometers and the soon-tolaunched MethaneSAT satellite, new airborne and space-based sensors respectively. These systems advance the state of the art and promise to enable industry, government, and the public to determine the where/how much/why of methane emissions from the oil and gas industry. We will also discuss the unique structure of the program, which is supported by private philanthropy.

Bio:

Prof. Wofsy’s work focuses on measuring, modeling, and mitigating the vast impacts that human beings have on the atmosphere. Combustion of fossil fuel, clearing of forests, agriculture, and chemical industry have caused concentrations of the most important atmospheric trace gases (CO2, CH4, N2O) to increase over the past 200 years, with accelerating change in the last 50 years. Emissions of industrial halocarbons (CFCs, such as CF2Cl2, "CFC-12") caused stratospheric ozone declines and formation of the Antarctic ozone “hole”. These changes have serious impacts on the environment of the earth and on society, such as climatic warming and global, regional and urban air pollution. Professor Wofsy’s research over many years has been motivated by the need for scientific information and analysis to make wise decisions on the future development and conservation of the world's resources.