Research and analysis

Satellite measurements of air quality and greenhouse gases: application to regulatory activities: summary

Published 10 May 2021

Applies to England

This project investigated how satellite measurements of air pollutants and greenhouse gases could be applied to the Environment Agency’s regulatory activities. It found that satellite data shows some evidence of regulated activities, such as emissions of nitrogen dioxide and ammonia to air. The limitations of current satellite measurements and opportunities for future use of new satellite data were defined, and analysis techniques developed for use with new data.

The project has established the Environment Agency’s interest and involvement in this area and developed working relationships with the wider earth observation research and user community. The Environment Agency is now well-placed to understand, adopt and respond to future developments in satellite measurements of air quality and greenhouse gases, and to address opportunities and challenges arising from the increasing availability and use of such data.

1. Background

The Environment Agency does not use satellite measurements of air quality or greenhouses gases in any of its regulatory activities. Use of such information is increasing across the research and scientific communities and the next generation of satellite instruments (including geostationary, miniaturised and constellation satellites) is expected to deliver significant improvements in temporal resolution, spatial resolution and sensitivity, making the data more usable for regulatory purposes.

This work aimed to:

• determine whether current satellite data can be used to detect regulated sites and activities, and
• develop analysis methods that might be used to track regulated sites and activities using data from the next generation of satellites.

2. Approach

The project was delivered through a literature review, extensive stakeholder consultation and three proof-of-concept case studies, which investigated ammonia, nitrogen dioxide and methane.

3. Results

We found that current satellite data did provide some evidence of regulated activities in England and the wider UK. Specifically, the case studies showed:

• monthly and seasonal variations in measured ammonia over the whole of the UK.
• increases in ammonia in some areas with large recent increases in intensive agricultural activity.
• elevated levels of nitrogen dioxide around three large industrial emitters, and directional plumes of nitrogen dioxide under certain conditions of wind speed and direction.
• elevated levels or plumes of methane from UK landfills could not be identified because of the relatively low rate of these emissions.

4. Conclusions

Although some evidence of regulated activity was found, it was concluded that current satellite air pollutant and greenhouse gas data are not yet able to resolve individual UK sites routinely. This finding applies to analyses that used satellite data in isolation, not in combination with other data or modelling.

The findings of the project and the development of methods for processing satellite air quality data equips the Environment Agency to understand, adopt and respond to future developments. The Environment Agency can therefore play an influential role in the future understanding and regulatory use of satellite measurements of air pollutants and greenhouse gases.

5. Further information

This summary relates to information from project SC200001, reported in detail in the following output:

• Report: SC200001/R1
• Title: Satellite measurements of air quality and greenhouse gases: application to regulatory activities
• Project manager: Andrew Brown, Chief Scientist’s Group

This project was funded by the Environment Agency’s Chief Scientist’s Group, which provides scientific knowledge, tools and techniques to enable us to protect and manage the environment as effectively as possible.

Enquiries: research@environment-agency.gov.uk

© Environment Agency