Carbon Sense

In this episode, Dr. Sean Crowell interviews Dr. Caroline Alden, the Chief Science Officer of Long Path. Long Path is an advanced methane monitoring startup with a simple goal: provide continuous monitoring of upstream oil & gas facilities to improve operations and lower methane emissions. They accomplish this goal using a high precision laser absorption spectrometer to create a "laser fence line monitor" around potential emission sources.

Have a listen to hear about Caroline's transition from carbon cycle scientist studying isotopes to the exciting world of an environmental monitoring startup.

keywords

methane monitoring, laser spectroscopy, climate change, oil and gas, emissions reduction, atmospheric science, OGMP 2.0, ARPA-E, environmental technology

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Guest Background

01:27 Caroline Alden’s Career Path and Climate Focus

01:39 Transition from Geology to Atmospheric Science

04:30 The ARPA-E Program and Innovation in Methane Detection

09:14 Long Path’s Mission and Industry Impact

13:19 Understanding VOCs and VRUs in Oil & Gas

14:39 Adapting from Academic to Industry Work

16:36 Ground-Based Laser Spectroscopy Technology

22:33 Market Adoption and Cost Effectiveness

27:01 Data Delivery and User Needs

33:35 Regulatory Relationships and Standards

42:05 Future Directions and Market Expansion

46:40 Impact on Climate and Industry Collaboration

Long Path Technologies - https://longpathtech.com/

OGMP 2.0 - https://www.unep.org/resources/report/ogmp-20-guidelines-methane-management

ARPA-E Program - https://arpa-e.energy.gov/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-alden/

Summary

In this episode, Sean Crowell interviews Dr. Kelsey Bilsback from PSE Healthy Energy, focusing on the intersection of air quality, health, and energy policy. Kelsey shares her journey from studying particle physics at CERN to her current role in air quality modeling, emphasizing the importance of understanding the health impacts of energy use, particularly in the oil and gas sector. The conversation delves into the Methane Risk Map, a tool developed by PSE Healthy Energy to assess the health risks associated with methane emissions from extraction facilities. Kelsey explains how the map combines satellite data with a gas composition database to quantify hazardous air pollutants and their potential health impacts on nearby communities.

The discussion also highlights the challenges of ensuring that scientific research informs policy decisions, particularly regarding vulnerable populations. Kelsey emphasizes the need for better data availability and coordination among states to improve air quality regulations. The episode concludes with a look at future projects, including expanding the Methane Risk Map internationally and exploring the health impacts of landfills, underscoring the critical role of science in advocating for public health and environmental protection.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Kelsey Bilsback and Her Background

03:37 Transitioning to Air Quality and Health Research

09:48 The Methane Risk Map: A New Tool for Understanding Emissions

13:58 Health Risks Associated with Methane Emissions

21:47 Stakeholders and Community Engagement with the Methane Risk Map

26:42 Future Directions and Expanding the Methane Risk Map

32:41 Closing Thoughts and Importance of Data Accessibility

In this conversation, Sean Crowell and Pete Roos discuss the innovative technologies developed by Bridger Photonics for measuring greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane. They explore the power of LiDAR technology, the importance of accurate measurements, and the company's mission to simplify emissions reduction for the oil and gas industry. The discussion also touches on the significance of statistical analysis in emissions data, the evolution of emission factors, and the future of measurement technologies, including new developments and collaborations with regulatory bodies.

Keywords

Bridger Photonics, laser technology, emission reduction, LiDAR, greenhouse gases, environmental sensing, methane emissions, measurement accuracy, regulatory compliance, innovation

In this conversation, Tia Scarpelli discusses her journey in climate research, focusing on methane emissions from landfills and the complexities of solid waste management. She highlights the importance of understanding methane generation, the role of remote sensing in emission detection, and the challenges of measuring emissions accurately. The discussion also covers mitigation strategies for landfills and the need for effective stakeholder engagement to drive action towards reducing methane emissions.

Keywords

climate change, methane emissions, landfills, remote sensing, environmental engineering, solid waste management, greenhouse gases, emission detection, waste reduction, sustainability

Chapters

03:30 The Importance of Landfills and Methane Emissions

12:09 Understanding Landfill Composition and Methane Generation

20:15 Modeling Methane Emissions from Landfills

25:30 Research and Measurement Challenges in Landfill Emissions

26:57 Measuring Greenhouse Gas Emissions

31:14 The Role of Remote Sensing in Emission Detection

35:24 Confidence in Remote Measurements

39:58 Mitigation Strategies for Landfills

46:56 CarbonMapper's Goals and Stakeholder Engagement

In this conversation, Sean Crowell interviews Aitor Morinigo, CEO of Satlantis, about the company's innovative approach to remote sensing and methane detection. Aitor shares his background in mechanical engineering and his journey from working in large corporations to leading a startup focused on satellite technology. The discussion covers the evolution of Satlantis, its partnerships with companies like Encino Environmental Services, and the importance of understanding customer needs in the oil and gas industry. Aitor also highlights the challenges of methane detection and the innovative technologies being developed to address these issues, like polarization sensitivity and higher spatial resolution in their next generation of sensors.

Keywords

Satlantis, remote sensing, methane detection, satellite technology, environmental monitoring, space industry, EO

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Aitor Morinigo and Sattlantis

02:10 Aitor's Journey into Remote Sensing and Engineering

04:41 Transition from Traditional to New Space

07:01 The Importance of Business Acumen in Engineering

08:29 Overview of Sattlantis and Its Mission

10:13 Sattlantis' Shift to Data Solutions

12:58 Partnership with Encino and Industry Insights

15:21 Innovative Technology for Pipeline Monitoring

17:57 Multispectral Imaging and Its Advantages

20:10 Combining Technologies for Enhanced Detection

22:36 Business Model and Customer Engagement

25:09 Future Developments and Innovations at Sattlantis

In this episode, Sean leads us on a journey through the history of the Orbiting Carbon Observatory missions and the scientists whose work has utilized the data to find key insights about the natural and human-influenced carbon cycle.

This episode is being released due to the status of these missions being "on the chopping block" in the proposed NASA budget for 2026 by the Trump administration.

Keywords

carbon dioxide, climate change, Orbiting Carbon Observatory, NASA, greenhouse gases, carbon cycle, emissions measurement, Earth science, environmental monitoring, climate policy

How do you detect methane leaks from space? And once you do - what comes next?
In this episode, Dr. Ilse Aben shares the story of TROPOMI, the Dutch-led satellite instrument that scans the Earth daily for greenhouse gases. We explore how column measurements are turned into emissions, the power of'tip-and-cue' collaboration with commercial satellites, and how UN-backed systems are turning satellite data into climate action on the ground.

• SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research: https://www.sron.nl/

• TROPOMI: https://www.tropomi.eu/

• IMEO MARS Program: https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/climate-action/what-we-do/imeo

• GHGSat: https://www.ghgsat.com/

• Global Methane Hub: https://www.globalmethanehub.org/

Episode Outline01:00–04:00 | Scientific Background04:00–09:15 | From SCIAMACHY to TROPOMI09:15–16:00 | How Satellites Measure Methane16:00–20:00 | Methane Sources Explained20:00–25:00 | Diffuse vs. Point Sources25:00–30:00 | Super Emitters and the Tip-and-Cue Model30:00–35:00 | IMEO & Global Mitigation via Satellites35:00–39:00 | Waste Emissions and Monitoring in the Global South39:00–43:00 | What’s Next in Satellite Methane Monitoring43:00–End | Final ReflectionsKeywords

greenhouse gases, carbon sense, international cooperation, physics, spectroscopy, TROPOMI, satellite measurements

Summary

This conversation delves into the insights from the EO Summit, focusing on greenhouse gas monitoring and pipeline methane emissions. It highlights the advancements in Earth observation technology, the importance of data integration, and the challenges faced in monitoring emissions effectively. The discussion emphasizes the need for trust in data, the role of incentives in emissions reduction, and the collaborative efforts required to address these environmental challenges.

Chapters

00:00 Overview of the Earth Observation Summit

01:36 Insights on Greenhouse Gas Monitoring

05:52 Challenges in Pipeline Surveillance and Methane Emissions

08:21 The Role of Incentives in Emission Reduction

11:43 Exploring Carbon Footprint and Its Impact

Keywords

TerraWatch Space, EO data, greenhouse gas monitoring, methane emissions, pipeline surveillance, Earth observation, environmental science, data integration, climate change, emissions reduction

In this conversation, Dr. Heather Couture discusses her work with Climate TRACE, focusing on the use of AI and satellite data to estimate CO2 emissions from power plants. She explains the importance of granular data for individual power plants, the challenges of estimating emissions accurately, and the need for collaboration in improving emission monitoring techniques. The discussion covers various aspects of machine learning, satellite technology, and the complexities of emissions data.

Keywords

Climate TRACE, AI, CO2 emissions, power plants, satellite data, machine learning, greenhouse gases, emissions monitoring, environmental science, energy production

In this conversation, Sean Crowell and Aaron Davitt of WattTime discuss the intersection of climate data, remote sensing, and emission tracking. Aaron introduces the Climate Trace Coalition, which was founded by Watt Time and former US Vice President Al Gore to create comprehensive greenhouse gas emission inventories. Unlike the previous discussions of GHG remote sensing, this discussion highlights the use of different sets of satellite imagery (visible, thermal, SAR, etc) to locate sources for monitoring emissions across various sectors, the importance of data accessibility, and the collaborative efforts needed to improve emission estimates and mitigation strategies.

This is Part 1 of a series on Climate TRACE.

Key Topics:

04:24 Aaron Davitt's Journey in Climate Science

06:50 Understanding Watt Time and Its Role

08:54 Overview of Climate Trace Coalition

11:17 Utilizing Satellite Data for Emission Estimates

13:43 Sector-Specific Emission Monitoring

15:40 Innovative Approaches in Emission Estimation

18:24 Collaboration and Open Data in Climate Trace

20:36 Future Directions for Climate Trace

Keywords: climate data, remote sensing, greenhouse gas emissions, satellite technology, Wattime, Climate Trace, emission inventory, environmental technology, data accessibility, collaboration, RMI