• A pipeline that takes methane gas from the Frank R. Bowerman landfill to an onsite power plant in Irvine, California. Reuters
    A pipeline that takes methane gas from the Frank R. Bowerman landfill to an onsite power plant in Irvine, California. Reuters
  • A satellite image shows a methane plume three kilometres long detected south-east of Carlsbad, New Mexico. Nasa scientists, using a tool designed to study how dust affects climate, have identified more than 50 sites around the world emitting high levels of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, the US space agency said. AFP
    A satellite image shows a methane plume three kilometres long detected south-east of Carlsbad, New Mexico. Nasa scientists, using a tool designed to study how dust affects climate, have identified more than 50 sites around the world emitting high levels of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, the US space agency said. AFP
  • An oil drilling rig in the Permian Basin oilfield in Midland, Texas. US President Joe Biden imposed a ban on Russian oil, which may mean that oil producers in the Permian Basin will need to pump more oil to meet demand. The Permian Basin is the largest petroleum-producing basin in the United States. AFP
    An oil drilling rig in the Permian Basin oilfield in Midland, Texas. US President Joe Biden imposed a ban on Russian oil, which may mean that oil producers in the Permian Basin will need to pump more oil to meet demand. The Permian Basin is the largest petroleum-producing basin in the United States. AFP
  • This satellite image from Nasa shows a 4.8km methane plume coming from a major landfill, where methane is a byproduct of decomposition, south of Tehran, Iran. AFP
    This satellite image from Nasa shows a 4.8km methane plume coming from a major landfill, where methane is a byproduct of decomposition, south of Tehran, Iran. AFP
  • Workers on an oil rig in the Permian Basin oilfield in Stanton, Texas. AFP
    Workers on an oil rig in the Permian Basin oilfield in Stanton, Texas. AFP
  • This satellite image shows 12 methane plumes streaming westward for more than 32 kilometres east of Hazar, Turkmenistan. Nasa
    This satellite image shows 12 methane plumes streaming westward for more than 32 kilometres east of Hazar, Turkmenistan. Nasa
  • Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov at the opening of the East-West pipeline at the Belek compressor station, about 500 kilometres from Ashgabat. On December 23 Turkmenistan completed a $2.5 billion gas pipeline connecting its eastern gas fields to the Caspian Sea, potentially expanding Europe's energy security options. AFP
    Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov at the opening of the East-West pipeline at the Belek compressor station, about 500 kilometres from Ashgabat. On December 23 Turkmenistan completed a $2.5 billion gas pipeline connecting its eastern gas fields to the Caspian Sea, potentially expanding Europe's energy security options. AFP
  • A lorry unloads rubbish at the South Kent landfill in Byron Township, Michigan. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released a study calculating that levels of the heat-trapping gas methane rose at a record pace in 2021. AP Photo
    A lorry unloads rubbish at the South Kent landfill in Byron Township, Michigan. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released a study calculating that levels of the heat-trapping gas methane rose at a record pace in 2021. AP Photo
  • Delhi fire officials take a break while fighting a fire at the Bhalswa landfill in New Delhi. Every day more than 2,300 tonnes of waste are dumped at the landfill without being segregated, resulting in the build-up of combustible methane gas. AP Photo
    Delhi fire officials take a break while fighting a fire at the Bhalswa landfill in New Delhi. Every day more than 2,300 tonnes of waste are dumped at the landfill without being segregated, resulting in the build-up of combustible methane gas. AP Photo
  • The Norte III biogas plant, which removes methane from waste at the landfill, outside Buenos Aires, Argentina. Norte III recently activated a new power station that runs on methane gas piped from under the landfill to generate electricity. Bloomberg
    The Norte III biogas plant, which removes methane from waste at the landfill, outside Buenos Aires, Argentina. Norte III recently activated a new power station that runs on methane gas piped from under the landfill to generate electricity. Bloomberg

Iran and Turkmenistan among methane 'super emitters' spotted by Nasa from space


Taylor Heyman
  • English
  • Arabic

Nasa scientists have begun tracking the world's largest methane emission spots from space and found sites in the US, Turkmenistan and Iran that are classed as “super emitters”.

Data is being gathered by the Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source (EMIT) mission, which involves a piece of specially designed kit called a spectrometer which was attached to the International Space Station in July.

Nasa said more than 50 “super emitters” of methane gas in Central Asia, the Middle East, and the south-western US have been identified so far. Most of them are connected to the fossil fuel, waste or agriculture sectors.

It found 12 plumes — some more than 32 kilometres wide — from oil and gas infrastructure east of the port of Hazar in Turkmenistan and another methane plume south of Iran's capital Tehran of around 4.8km.

“Some of the plumes EMIT detected are among the largest ever seen — unlike anything that has ever been observed from space,” said Andrew Thorpe, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) research technologist leading the EMIT's methane studies.

“What we’ve found in just a short time already exceeds our expectations.”

New Mexico's Permian Basin, one of the largest oilfields in the world, showed a plume of 3.3 kilometres, emitting approximately 18,000 kilograms of methane per hour into the atmosphere.

The Turkmenistan plumes emitted around 50,400kg of methane per hour and the Iranian plume 8,500kg.

To put this in perspective, one of the four Nord Stream pipeline leaks is kicking out 22,920kg of methane per hour and originally had a plume of 520 metres.

“The continuing rise in concentrations of the main heat-trapping gases, including the record acceleration in methane levels, shows that we are heading in the wrong direction,” World Meteorological Organisation head Petteri Taalas said.

The WMO's Greenhouse Gas Bulletin found the biggest year-on-year jump in methane concentrations in 2021 since systematic measurements began nearly 40 years ago on Thursday.

The EMIT programme was designed to gather data on dust and its impact on climate, but Nasa scientists have discovered it can also read methane levels due to how they absorb infrared light. As the ISS orbits Earth, it can gain broad readings of the planet in detail, revealing the extent of known leaks and spotting new ones.

“Reining in methane emissions is key to limiting global warming. This exciting new development will not only help researchers better pinpoint where methane leaks are coming from but also provide insight on how they can be addressed — quickly,” Nasa Administrator Bill Nelson said.

Methane is one of the main drivers of climate change, accounting for about 30 per cent of global warming since the pre-industrial era. The greenhouse gas is 80 times more potent than carbon for warming the planet over a 20-year period.

Even as Covid-19 lockdowns drove carbon emissions down in 2020, methane emissions continued to climb, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found.

But unlike carbon dioxide, methane breaks downs in the atmosphere in about 10 years, meaning action to stop it from reaching the ozone layer can make a huge difference.

The UN estimates that human-caused methane emissions may be reduced by as much as 45 per cent this decade, if the right action is taken.

“As it continues to survey the planet, EMIT will observe places in which no one thought to look for greenhouse-gas emitters before, and it will find plumes that no one expects,” said Robert Green, EMIT’s principal investigator at JPL.

Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Manchester City (0) v Liverpool (3)

Uefa Champions League, quarter-final, second leg

Where: Etihad Stadium
When: Tuesday, 10.45pm
Live on beIN Sports HD

Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill

Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.

The rules on fostering in the UAE

A foster couple or family must:

  • be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
  • not be younger than 25 years old
  • not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
  • be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
  • have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
  • undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
  • A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

Fixtures:

Thursday:
Hatta v Al Jazira, 4.55pm
Al Wasl v Dibba, 7.45pm

Friday:
Al Dhafra v Al Nasr, 5.05pm
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai v Al Wahda, 7.45pm

Saturday:
Ajman v Emirates, 4.55pm
Al Ain v Sharjah, 7.45pm

The specs: 2018 Kia Picanto

Price: From Dh39,500

Engine: 1.2L inline four-cylinder

Transmission: Four-speed auto

Power: 86hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque: 122Nm @ 4,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 6.0L / 100km

Expert input

If you had all the money in the world, what’s the one sneaker you would buy or create?

“There are a few shoes that have ‘grail’ status for me. But the one I have always wanted is the Nike x Patta x Parra Air Max 1 - Cherrywood. To get a pair in my size brand new is would cost me between Dh8,000 and Dh 10,000.” Jack Brett

“If I had all the money, I would approach Nike and ask them to do my own Air Force 1, that’s one of my dreams.” Yaseen Benchouche

“There’s nothing out there yet that I’d pay an insane amount for, but I’d love to create my own shoe with Tinker Hatfield and Jordan.” Joshua Cox

“I think I’d buy a defunct footwear brand; I’d like the challenge of reinterpreting a brand’s history and changing options.” Kris Balerite

 “I’d stir up a creative collaboration with designers Martin Margiela of the mixed patchwork sneakers, and Yohji Yamamoto.” Hussain Moloobhoy

“If I had all the money in the world, I’d live somewhere where I’d never have to wear shoes again.” Raj Malhotra

Updated: October 26, 2022, 3:34 PM