On April 1st, 2025, a shortwave infrared (#SWIR) image acquired by the PRISMA satellite was georeferenced and overlaid onto a Google Earth map. The result: three bright hotspots (in white) were clearly detected in the Carirubana region of Venezuela, corresponding to gas flares near oil refineries.
#GasFlaring is the controlled burning of natural gas that is released during oil extraction and processing. It is often used as a safety measure or when infrastructure for gas capture is unavailable. These flares emit intense thermal radiation, making them highly visible in the infrared spectrum. In satellite imagery, they typically appear as sharp, high-temperature points against cooler backgrounds.
Gas flares are most commonly observed in regions with significant #oil production activity, such as Venezuela, Nigeria, Russia, the United States, and parts of the Middle East. Monitoring these emissions from space is vital for assessing environmental impact, improving emission estimates, and supporting regulatory efforts.
PRISMA (PRecursore IperSpettrale della Missione Applicativa) is the first European satellite equipped with both a hyperspectral sensor and a panchromatic camera. Developed for the Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI) by a consortium led by OHB Italia S.p.A. as #PrimeContractor, the satellite captures Earth observation data with a spatial resolution of 30 meters (hyperspectral) and 5 meters (panchromatic).
This kind of observation plays a crucial role in improving the accuracy of temperature measurements from space, especially for heat sources like gas flares. When hyperspectral data is acquired during daylight, solar radiation may interfere and lead to underestimated temperatures.
PRISMA once again confirms the value of space-based #hyperspectralimaging in addressing environmental challenges on a global scale.
Learn more on #ASI website: https://lnkd.in/ekw6G9dV
Photo Credits: Data/Information generated by S. Amici (INGV) under an ASI License to Use; Original PRISMA Product – © ASI – (2025)
#EarthObservation #HyperspectralImaging #ASI #GasFlares #ClimateMonitoring #Venezuela #Sustainability
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