NASA Finds a Delaware-Sized Methane "Hot Spot" In the Southwest

merbs writes According to new satellite research from scientists at NASA and the University of Michigan this "hot spot" is "responsible for producing the largest concentration of the greenhouse gas methane seen over the United States—more than triple the standard ground-based estimate." It covers 2,500 square miles, about the size of Delaware. It is so big that scientists initially thought it was a mistake in their instruments. "We didn't focus on it because we weren't sure if it was a true signal or an instrument error," NASA's Christian Frankenberg said in a statement.

Comments

Relative sizes

[badger.foo]

For UK and European readers, "the size of Delaware" is just a tad more than a fourth of "the size of Wales".

Re:Relative sizes

[Spy Handler]

Also for UK readers: TFA is talking about meeethane gas.

Re:Relative sizes

[TheRaven64]

For speakers of Commonwealth English, 'a fourth' is American for 'a quarter'.

Re:Relative sizes

[Thanshin]

For everyone else, they're talking about 6,500 km2.

(Or, the combined area of about 1293017700000 ping pong balls)

Re:Relative sizes

[Anonymous Coward]

For geopolitically challenged environmentalist-globalist readers, Delaware is about the same size as the methane hotspot recently discovered in the American Southwest.

Whadda coincidence,

[Tablizer]

...it's over Rush Limbaugh's house.

-5 Flamebait

roasted pepper & garlic sandwiches

[PopeRatzo]

NASA Finds a Delaware-Sized Methane "Hot Spot" In the Southwest

My Uncle Tony moved to Phoenix two years ago. I'm just saying.

Re:yes, let's

[Anonymous Coward]

The primary effect of fracking is the lower price of fossil fuels.

I thought the primary effect of fracking was contaminated groundwater and aquifers...

America in decline.

[Snufu]

For UK and European readers, "the size of Delaware" is just a tad more than a fourth of "the size of Wales".

That exchange rate keeps plummeting. When I was a kid, you could get two Wales for a Delaware.

perfectly NATURAL - NOT MAN-MADE

[Thud457]

This is just Gaia naturally trying to clear up a nasty infestation of Homo Sapiens and return to a normal equilibrium. Nothing to be alarmed about here.