Are they? A CubeSat can be launched for less than $100k, and their payload can contain off-the-shelf consumer hardware. That's what some upper-middle class families pay for an extra car. I think you're overestimating the cost of satellites.
At the same time, you're underestimating the challenges of operating a ground sensor network. How would identify which sites to survey from the ground without a broader search? Would the oil industry get to regulate itself? What about temporal variability or detecting flares? How would you detect new leaks and add new sensors? What about large-scale natural leaks that spread over many kms in inaccessible terrain?
Even assuming you could pinpoint the location of every active methane source ahead of time, how would you get a sensor there? How would you secure access for installation and maintenance? How would you ensure connectivity? How would you monitor in areas controlled by hostile governments?
Each of the hundreds of thousands of sites has its own logistical challenges
which explode the cost. And because you need to keep the sensor network up to date, it's a constant operational battle, not a one time expense. Compare that to a satellite: the one-shot launch, then lower cost, lower operations, and superior temporal detection abilities and global coverage - not hard to understand why satellites are preferred.
I mostly agree but the $100k is only launch cost, it doesn't include the engineering and manufacturing of the satellite or the ongoing operational costs.
$100k would only hire a single employee, it wouldn't even cover getting them into the field let alone setting up and maintaining infrastructure over the course of a year.
It's possible to reduce this number by taking advantages of labor conditions and goodwill, but that turns out to be a ton of legwork if you want a reliable team in the area year after year.
For example, in an anthro field school you might source local labor by identifying people who want to learn about their ancestors, and you'll expect a lot of community outreach and Q&A sessions around what you're studying.
You could attempt a similar approach for studying methane but I'd personally expect the Q&A sessions to include a heavy undertone of "convince me we shouldn't just kill the people involved", and all of my arguments against would be from the perspective of a system they don't really give a shit about. I'd certainly never put myself in that position.
Are they? A CubeSat can be launched for less than $100k, and their payload can contain off-the-shelf consumer hardware. That's what some upper-middle class families pay for an extra car. I think you're overestimating the cost of satellites.
At the same time, you're underestimating the challenges of operating a ground sensor network. How would identify which sites to survey from the ground without a broader search? Would the oil industry get to regulate itself? What about temporal variability or detecting flares? How would you detect new leaks and add new sensors? What about large-scale natural leaks that spread over many kms in inaccessible terrain?
Even assuming you could pinpoint the location of every active methane source ahead of time, how would you get a sensor there? How would you secure access for installation and maintenance? How would you ensure connectivity? How would you monitor in areas controlled by hostile governments?
Each of the hundreds of thousands of sites has its own logistical challenges which explode the cost. And because you need to keep the sensor network up to date, it's a constant operational battle, not a one time expense. Compare that to a satellite: the one-shot launch, then lower cost, lower operations, and superior temporal detection abilities and global coverage - not hard to understand why satellites are preferred.