The ORNL DAAC recently released this dataset from the Carbon Monitoring Systems (CMS) project by Elveridge, C.D., et al., (2021):
Global Gas Flare Survey by Infrared Imaging, VIIRS Nightfire, 2012-2019
This dataset contains annual global flare site surveys from 2012-2019 derived from Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi National Polar Partnership (SNPP) satellite. Gas flaring sites were identified from heat anomalies first estimated by the VIIRS Nightfire (VNF) algorithm from which high-temperature biomass burning and low-temperature gas flaring were separated based on temperature and persistence. Nightly observations for each flare site were drawn to determine their activity in the given calendar year. Data include flare location, temperature, and estimated flared gas volume; flaring data summarized by country; and KMZ files for viewing flaring locations in Google Earth. This dataset is valuable for measuring the current status of global gas flaring, which can have significant environmental impacts.
The NASA CMS program is designed to make significant contributions in characterizing, quantifying, understanding, and predicting the evolution of global carbon sources and sinks through improved monitoring of carbon stocks and fluxes. The System uses NASA satellite observations and modeling/analysis capabilities to establish the accuracy, quantitative uncertainties, and utility of products for supporting national and international policy, regulatory, and management activities. CMS data products are designed to inform near-term policy development and planning.
Additional data from Carbon Monitoring System (CMS) project and other relevant links can be found on the ORNL DAAC's CMS Project Page.
Citation: Elvidge, C.D., and M. Zhizhin. 2021. Global Gas Flare Survey by Infrared Imaging, VIIRS Nightfire, 2012-2019. ORNL DAAC, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA. https://doi.org/10.3334/ORNLDAAC/1874