Evaluation of methane emission from landfill based on EMIT

This study utilizes the high spatial-temporal resolution (60m) and high spectral characteristics (380-2500 nm, SNR>200@2300 nm) of NASA's EMIT (Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation) imaging spectrometer, combined with the matched filter algorithm, to conduct methane point source detection and quantification analysis of typical solid waste landfills in China. By designing a matched filter tailored for methane absorption spectra, the algorithm significantly suppresses complex background interference from the Earth's surface, enabling highly sensitive identification and precise localization of plumes. Furthermore, an integrated mass enhancement (IME) model is employed, integrating effective wind speed and plume scale parameters, to retrieve point source emission flux rates. Empirical results demonstrate that the methane emission rates from the Midong Landfill in Urumqi (April 2025, April 2023) and the Yulin Landfill in Shaanxi (November 2024) were 13.43±5.1 tons/hour, 19.51±7.3 tons/hour and 17.64±7.1 tons/hour, respectively, validating the reliability of the method. This method has a stable detection capability for methane point sources with emission rates as low as several hundred kilograms per hour, filling the gap in spatial detail of existing satellite monitoring. It provides high-cost-performance technical support for high-frequency, near-real-time regulation of methane emissions from landfills and global emission reduction initiatives.