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A new satellite will help tackle methane leaks, a major driver of global warming

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A new satellite will help tackle methane leaks, a major driver of global warming : NPR A new satellite will help tackle methane leaks, a major driver of global warming Audio will be available later today. Methane is a greenhouse gas that often leaks from drilling sites and pipelines. A new satellite will hunt for methane leaks worldwide, which could significantly slow down global warming.

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As the production of natural gas from shale fields has expanded, so have methane emissions. U.S. methane emissions grew 27 percent from 1990 to 2009, according to the Energy Information Administration. Methane contributes about 10 percent of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and is 25 times more potent a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. 

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