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Category: Juliana Reid

Mining is the Next Global Energy Security Threat 6/15/2021

Mining is the Next Global Energy Security Threat

Payne Institute Director Morgan Bazilian writes about how humanity is at an inflection point in the fight against climate change. The next decade will be a critical test for whether we can marshal both the technologies and the policies required to fundamentally change the global economy and its energy and transport systems.  The energy systems of the future, which will rely more heavily on renewables than fossil fuels, will be much more mineral and metal intensive than those of the past. June 15, 2021.

STATE OF COLORADO EXPERIENCES WORST WILDFIRE SEASON IN 2020 6/14/2021

STATE OF COLORADO EXPERIENCES WORST WILDFIRE SEASON IN 2020

Payne Institute Earth Observation Group has the capability to look at the devastation created by fires with their VIIRS Nightfire systems.    2020 was the worst fire season on record for the State of Colorado. The Cameron Peak Fire, rated as the state’s largest, broke records by consuming 208,663 acres, forced evacuation of over 20,000 residents, and burnt a sizeable portion of Rocky Mountain National Park. Not far behind was the Pine Gulch fire, which burnt 139,007 acres. In total, 625,356 acres burnt in 2020 across Colorado.  June 14, 2021.  

State of Colorado experiences worst wildfire season in 2020

by Chris Elvidge and Feng Chi Hsu (map by Elijah Mt. Castle)

2020 was the worst fire season on record for the State of Colorado. The Cameron Peak Fire, rated as the state’s largest, broke records by consuming 208,663 acres, forced evacuation of over 20,000 residents, and burnt a sizeable portion of Rocky Mountain National Park. Not far behind was the Pine Gulch fire, which burnt 139,007 acres. In total, 625,356 acres burnt in 2020 across Colorado. The map here shows the location and extent of satellite fire detections from VIIRS Nightfire, produced nightly at the Colorado School of Mines by the Earth Observation Group.

Cheniere Announces Collaboration with Natural Gas Suppliers and Academic Institutions to Quantify, Monitor, Report and Verify GHG Emissions 6/10/2021

Cheniere Announces Collaboration with Natural Gas Suppliers and Academic Institutions to Quantify, Monitor, Report and Verify GHG Emissions

The Payne Institute is a proud partner with Cheniere Energy, Inc. (“Cheniere”) (NYSE American: LNG), the largest producer of liquefied natural gas in the U.S., on a collaboration with five natural gas producers and several leading academic institutions to implement quantification, monitoring, reporting and verification (“QMRV”) of greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions performance at natural gas production sites.  June 10, 2021.  

Tackling Energy Poverty and Climate Change through Sustainable Power Generation in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq 6/9/2021

Tackling Energy Poverty and Climate Change through Sustainable Power Generation in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Payne Institute Fellow Peri-Khan Aqrawi-Whitcomb and Prsha Abubakr Othman write about how the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) continues to tackle a myriad of socio-economic and political issues, intensified by a global crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These socio-economic and political setbacks are amplified by energy poverty and climate change.  June 9, 2021.

VIIRS Boat Detection Data (VBD) 6/8/2021

VIIRS Boat Detection Data (VBD)

Payne Institute Earth Observation Group Director Christopher Elvidge and his researchers produce global fishing boat detection data in near-real time from low light imaging data collected by the NASA / NOAA Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS). The detections are produced with a nominal four-hour temporal latency – with files typically ready by 06:00 local time. Most of the detections come from vessels deploying heavy lighting to attract catch. This is a common practice in Asia and several other areas. EOG send email alerts on vessel detections in marine protected areas to government agencies and NGO’s in Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand.  June 8, 2021. 

VIIRS Boat Detection Data (VBD)

By Chris Elvidge

The Colorado School of Mines’ Earth Observation Group produces global fishing boat detection data in near-real time from low light imaging data collected by the NASA / NOAA Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS).  The detections are produced with a nominal four-hour temporal latency – with files typically ready by 06:00 local time.  Most of the detections come from vessels deploying heavy lighting to attract catch.  This is a common practice in Asia and several other areas.  EOG send email alerts on vessel detections in marine protected areas to government agencies and NGO’s in Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand.

Comparative analysis of selected African natural gas markets and related policies 6/7/2021

Comparative analysis of selected African natural gas markets and related policies

John Ayaburi, Shashwat Sharma, and Payne Institute Director Morgan Bazilian write about how natural gas discoveries in emerging economies have changed the global gas map dramatically over the last 15 years.  Understanding these policy dynamics is not only critical to effective resource utilization but also critical as the world commits to ending energy poverty.  June 7, 2021.