A new deep learning model maps global methane emissions from space.

A new deep learning model maps global methane emissions from space. Vishal Batchu Research Engineer, Google Research Sep 09, 2026 In a new study published in PNAS , Google and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) introduced MAPL-EMIT, an AI model that tracks methane emissions globally from space using NASA’s EMIT instrument. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas. Over a 100-year timeframe, its warming potential is 30 times greater than that of carbon dioxide. MAPL-EMIT tackles a critical bottleneck in methane detection. Trained on 3.6 million physics-simulated methane plumes (clouds of methane gas released into the atmosphere), it cuts through complex, noisy terrain to detect 50% more plumes than human experts and identifies more than 23,000 additional plumes globally, including 24 out of 25 of the world’s largest-emitting landfills. By making methane sources easier to find at scale, MAPL-EMIT enables faster, more targeted climate mitigation. Google has released the global plume database on Earth Engine alongside an Earth Engine app to visualize the data. Open-source models are available on Kaggle and inference tools are on GitHub to support researchers, policymakers, and operators. Read more on the Google Research blog . Posted in: Related stories Global Network Our blueprint for responsible clean energy growth in Finland By Enrique Frances & Zivile Vens Sustainability We’re helping put 25 new electric semi trucks on the road in Texas. By Jenna Stauffer Google Research Our new contrail avoidance trial in Asia-Pacific By Kemal Armada & Max Vogler Google DeepMind Backing 16 green AI projects in Asia-Pacific By Spencer Low & Sami Kizilbash — Company newsroom — sourced from Google. Matter furnished by the company. Not a Notice Nearby paid placement. This page reprints matter furnished by the company from its official newsroom. Notice Nearby did not write this release. Read the original: https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/models-and-research/google-research/mapping-global-methane-emissions-from-space