Space Minds Carbon Mapper and Tracking Super Pollutants
Sep 4, 2025
Riley Duren, CEO of Carbon Mapper and former NASA engineer, dives into groundbreaking technology for tracking methane and CO2 emissions. He shares how his organization uses hyperspectral satellites to identify super-emitters, transforming greenhouse gas data into actionable insights. Duren discusses the unique motivations for companies to reduce emissions and the importance of fast, agile partnerships in tackling climate change. He also highlights the broader applications of their hyperspectral data and the shift from traditional risk-averse space missions to innovative approaches.
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Three Pillars For Effective Monitoring
- Effective methane reduction requires completeness, accessibility, and responsiveness of monitoring data.
- Speed matters because data must be within the action horizon of those who can fix leaks.
Use Hyperspectral Imaging For Detection
- Use hyperspectral imaging to detect methane and CO2 at facility scale by measuring hundreds of spectral bands.
- Target infrared wavelengths where greenhouse gases have distinct signatures.
Multiple Incentives Drive Action
- Incentives to fix methane leaks include recovered product value, market competitiveness, and local health concerns.
- Different stakeholders (companies, regulators, communities) respond to different motivations.