Monitoring methane emissions in Iran using Sentinel-P5 satellite data: Analyzing emission trends and identifying critical sources (2019-2023)

Babaei, Behnaz; Dousti, Reza; Javadnia, Eslam; Kiaei, Sina; Karami, Heshmat; Abdi, Amir Hossein

doi:10.22061/jrsgr.2025.12508.1109

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

¹ Department of Geomatics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran

² Iranian Space Research Center, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22061/jrsgr.2025.12508.1109

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Methane, as the second most important greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide, plays a significant role in intensifying global warming. Its global warming potential (GWP) over a 100-year period is estimated to be about 28 times greater than that of carbon dioxide. According to reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), approximately 40% of anthropogenic methane emissions are linked to the energy sector, particularly the oil and gas industries. As one of the major producers of oil and gas worldwide, Iran faces serious challenges in monitoring and controlling methane emissions—a matter of particular importance within the framework of international commitments such as the Paris Agreement. The Sentinel-5P satellite, equipped with the TROPOMI sensor, provides high spatial resolution and daily coverage, enabling continuous monitoring and quantification of methane emissions on a global scale. This study aims to examine the temporal trends of methane emissions in Iran over a five-year period (2019–2023) and to identify critical areas in terms of emission intensity.
Methods: This research was conducted using a descriptive–analytical approach based on time-series data derived from the TROPOMI sensor onboard the Sentinel-5P satellite within the Google Earth Engine platform. Methane concentration data with a spatial resolution of 5.5 × 7 km were extracted for the entire geographical extent of Iran and processed to obtain annual, seasonal, and monthly averages. To analyze temporal trends and spatial patterns, five-year variation maps and charts were generated to identify dominant trends and high-emission regions.
Findings: The results indicated an increasing trend in the annual mean methane concentration over Iran during the study period, with an estimated annual growth rate of about 0.03%. On average, methane concentrations exceeded the IPCC threshold of 1800 ppb by approximately 101.21 ppb. Seasonal analyses revealed that the highest concentrations occurred in autumn and winter, likely due to increased gas extraction activities and reduced efficiency of leakage control systems during colder periods. The total cumulative methane concentration from all sources during the five-year study period reached a considerable value of 1,487,134,705 ppb.
Conclusion: The findings highlight a serious challenge for Iran in managing and controlling methane emissions. The observed upward trend underscores the urgent need to formulate and implement effective mitigation policies. In this regard, the deployment of advanced leak detection systems and investment in modern emission control technologies can play a significant role in reducing the environmental impacts of methane.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Remote Sensing

COPYRIGHTS

(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

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Journal of Remote Sensing and Geoinformation Research

Monitoring methane emissions in Iran using Sentinel-P5 satellite data: Analyzing emission trends and identifying critical sources (2019-2023)

References

References

Volume 3, Issue 2 - Serial Number 6
July 2025
Pages 333-344

Monitoring methane emissions in Iran using Sentinel-P5 satellite data: Analyzing emission trends and identifying critical sources (2019-2023)

References

References

Volume 3, Issue 2 - Serial Number 6July 2025Pages 333-344

Volume 3, Issue 2 - Serial Number 6
July 2025
Pages 333-344