Monster Methane Cloud Hovers Over Western U.S.

U.S.Sputnik News ^ | 12-30-14 | Raisa Camargo

[smokingfrog]

Scientists are beginning to question the ramifications of a giant Delaware-sized methane hot spot high up in the air. The “giant plume” is the largest collection of greenhouse gas in the air above the U.S. and is likely the result of natural gas leaks.

It’s located over a stretch of desert in Southeast New Mexico, and NASA scientists have studied the methane cloud as a potent climate changer for the past three years.

When it first appeared, scientists questioned its existence.

“We couldn’t be sure that the signal was real,” NASA researcher Christian Frankenberg told the Washington Post.

But NASA teams and University of Michigan scientists verified the methane “hot spot” in October. The study’s lead author Eric Kort says it’s unlikely that the methane emissions were caused by fracking alone, as the period in which scientists have studied the cloud predates “the widespread use of hydraulic fracturing.” Kort says the methane emissions are likely due instead to leaks in natural gas extraction and processing equipment in New Mexico's San Juan Basin.

"The results are indicative that emissions from established fossil fuel harvesting techniques are greater than inventoried," Kort said. "There's been so much attention on high-volume hydraulic fracturing, but we need to consider the industry as a whole."

Although not detectable by the naked eye, the cloud is visible from outer space. NASA scientists estimate the plume has reached over 2,500 square miles in the past decade.

It’s only the latest episode of documented massive gas leaks, and infrared cameras are currently being used to detect the natural gas surfacing from wells and compressors across the country.

Methane is considered to be twenty times more harmful a greenhouse gas than carbon-dioxide.

[upchuck]

Thank you. Was waiting for that :)

[JimSEA]

"The NASA satellites can’t identify what’s causing the methane gush over northwestern New Mexico. But scientists from Los Alamos National Laboratory believe they’ve found the source, and they don’t blame fracking, even though New Mexico’s San Juan Basin is among the most productive oil-extraction sites in the country. “We confirmed that it’s most likely coal-bed methane,” said Manvendra Dubey, a leading researcher at the lab on the project that pegged the source of the enormous fugitive methane cloud." An article in the Santa Fe New Mexican is not so quick to blame those pesky humans and their insatiable desire to destroy the world. Rather, the NASA scientists here "blame" coal bed methane. There are an awful lot of exposed coal seams in this area.

[NonValueAdded]

Got a match?

[Mike Darancette]

Strike a match.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

Fartnami! Fartnami!

[beethovenfan]

Collected farts from the California state government?

[leapfrog0202]

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[Blue Collar Christian]

Yes, I know. You had to just keep your mouth shut around my dad.

[Mike Darancette]

How can you have negative parts per billion?

[OneWingedShark]

Monster Methane Cloud Hovers Over Western U.S.

I'm sorry… I just love my beans and cabbage.

[Mike Darancette]

is actually the average methane concentration above background, over 6-7 years of data.

Since the difference is so miniscule (+- 50 parts per BILLION) this method is used to make it look like it is a massive deal.

[iontheball]

The SOBs never stop dreaming up crazy claims of man made global warming. If it is what they say it is, how do they know it is man made and not natural earth leakage? Gas is emitted deep in the ocean floor all the time through fissures, so why would the same not occur elsewhere? The only difference is you can see it escaping on the ocean floor. Furthermore, the gas is natural and nature will adjust and take care of it.

[leapfrog0202]

I’m sorry… I just love my beans and cabbage.

---

I figured it was one of ‘us’.

[Disambiguator]

It’s almost directly over Dulce, New Mexico. Location of the infamous Dulce Underground Alien Base where aliens thrive on Methane.

That explains a lot about Dulce. I used to do some work up there once in a while. Strange place.

[PIF]

Country Joe and the Fish - I went looking for some tunes and found a few videos - two were from the ‘67 Monterrey Pop Festival - I had forgotten how young we were - if you watch them you will see numerous guys with neat shortish hair - that’s us, the guys from DLI - you know who you are ... just trying to blend in, in our dark sun glasses ... CJAF did not move too many then - Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, and Janis J really rocked out.

[wastedyears]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6dm9rN6oTs

Maybe it was this...

[UCANSEE2]

It would seem, according to that map, the highest concentration of Methane is over the NAVAHO NATION OFF RESERVATION TRUST LAND.

[Squantos]

Time to lite that puppy up....... kabooooom !!

4 degrees here this am ....50 mph winds. Thank god for gore tex windstopper material, under armor, polar fleece and thinsulate........ twas a wee bit chilly for a while...... hope that methane heads this way soon.....

merry new year !

[skeeter]

'Pull my finger'

[doc maverick]

Wait until it drifts over The White Hut and then light a match to it.