In the heart of the Mediterranean, Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano, has long been a subject of fascination and study. Now, a groundbreaking analysis using data from NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory-3 (OCO-3) satellite is shedding new light on the volcano’s carbon dioxide emissions, with potential implications for the energy sector.
Vito Romaniello, a researcher at the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia in Rome, has been leading a team that is exploiting OCO-3’s unique capabilities to monitor CO2 emissions from Mt. Etna. The satellite’s Snapshot Area Map (SAM) mode allows for targeted observations, capturing detailed snapshots of atmospheric CO2 concentrations around the volcano.
“OCO-3 provides a new perspective for studying atmospheric CO2,” Romaniello explains. “By analyzing the data, we can identify periods of significant CO2 emissions, which may correlate with intense volcanic activity.”
The team analyzed 62 OCO-3 images acquired between 2020 and 2023, focusing on a 20 km radius around Mt. Etna’s summit. They examined CO2 concentrations as a function of distance from the summit, identifying five days with potentially significant emissions. These days coincided with notable volcanic activity, such as lava fountains, suggesting a strong correlation between elevated gas emissions and intense volcanic phenomena.
So, why does this matter for the energy sector? Understanding volcanic CO2 emissions can help refine models of global carbon cycles, which are crucial for predicting climate change and developing sustainable energy strategies. Moreover, the technology and methods used in this study could be applied to monitor CO2 emissions from industrial sources, such as power plants and refineries, enhancing our ability to track and manage greenhouse gas emissions.
The research, published in the journal ‘Remote Sensing’ (translated from Italian), opens up new avenues for using satellite data to monitor and analyze CO2 emissions. As Romaniello puts it, “This assessment is supported by thermal activity analyses using SEVIRI, MODIS, and VIIRS satellite data, providing a comprehensive view of the volcano’s behavior.”
Looking ahead, this work could shape future developments in satellite-based monitoring systems, offering more precise and timely data on CO2 emissions. For the energy sector, this means better tools for tracking emissions, verifying reductions, and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations. As we strive for a more sustainable future, such innovations will be invaluable in our quest to understand and mitigate the impacts of climate change.