About
Carbon Mapper is a nonprofit organization leading a unique public-private partnership to combat climate change through precision greenhouse gas monitoring. Using visible-infrared imaging spectrometers mounted on satellites and aircraft, Carbon Mapper detects, locates, and quantifies methane and CO₂ point-source emissions at a facility level across the globe. Their open data portal currently hosts over 30,000 methane plume observations and more than 6,100 CO₂ plume observations, representing hundreds of millions of kilograms of methane tracked. All data is freely available to governments, policymakers, industry operators, researchers, journalists, and the public, enabling transparent, science-backed action against super-emitters. Carbon Mapper translates raw emissions data into actionable insights by partnering with government agencies, NGOs, and industry groups to develop tools and reports that support direct mitigation efforts. Powered entirely by philanthropy, the organization is expanding toward a full satellite constellation for sustained, high-frequency monitoring of priority regions worldwide. The platform is ideal for environmental researchers, climate policymakers, investigative journalists, NGOs, and industrial operators seeking reliable, peer-reviewed greenhouse gas data to support emissions reduction commitments, regulatory compliance, and public accountability campaigns.
Key Features
- Satellite & Airborne Detection: Uses precision visible-infrared imaging spectrometers on satellites and aircraft to locate and quantify methane and CO₂ point-source emissions globally.
- Open Data Portal: Freely accessible portal hosting tens of thousands of methane and CO₂ plume observations, updated on an ongoing basis for public use.
- Facility-Scale Quantification: Pinpoints and measures emissions at the individual facility level, providing the granularity needed to support direct mitigation action by operators.
- Peer-Reviewed Methodology: All data and analysis follow transparent, peer-reviewed scientific methods to ensure credibility and trust for policy and research applications.
- Partner Ecosystem: Collaborates with government agencies, NGOs, and industry groups to translate raw emissions data into actionable insights and mitigation tools.
Use Cases
- Environmental researchers studying the sources and scale of global methane and CO₂ super-emitter emissions.
- Government regulators and policymakers tracking industrial facility compliance with greenhouse gas reduction commitments.
- Investigative journalists and NGOs building evidence-based climate accountability campaigns using facility-level emissions data.
- Oil, gas, and agricultural operators identifying and repairing emission leaks at their own facilities using open satellite data.
- Climate scientists and academics validating emissions inventories and developing new mitigation strategies with peer-reviewed observational data.
Pros
- Completely Free Access: All greenhouse gas data on the portal is publicly available at no cost, powered by philanthropic funding rather than subscriptions.
- Facility-Level Precision: Unlike regional averages, Carbon Mapper identifies specific super-emitting facilities, enabling targeted and effective mitigation efforts.
- Actionable & Transparent Data: Science-backed, peer-reviewed data is paired with partner collaborations that help translate findings into real-world policy and operational changes.
Cons
- Focused on Super-Emitters Only: The platform targets large point-source emissions and is not designed to capture diffuse or low-level greenhouse gas sources.
- Coverage Still Expanding: The satellite constellation is not yet complete, meaning continuous high-frequency global monitoring is still a work in progress.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Carbon Mapper's data free to access?
Yes. Carbon Mapper is a nonprofit funded by philanthropy, and all data on their open portal is freely accessible to the public with no subscription or fee required.
What types of emissions does Carbon Mapper detect?
Carbon Mapper detects methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) super-emitters, focusing on large point-source emissions from facilities such as oil and gas operations, landfills, and agricultural sites.
How does Carbon Mapper detect greenhouse gas emissions?
Carbon Mapper uses precision visible-infrared imaging spectrometers mounted on satellites and aircraft to image and measure the spectral signature of methane and CO₂ in the atmosphere, allowing them to locate and quantify emissions at the source.
Who can use Carbon Mapper data?
The data is openly available to anyone — including environmental researchers, government regulators, policymakers, journalists, NGOs, and industry operators — to support accountability and direct mitigation efforts.
How often is the data updated?
Carbon Mapper publishes new observations on an ongoing basis as satellites and aircraft complete passes over monitored regions. The organization is expanding toward a full constellation for higher-frequency global coverage.
