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Classroom example GHGSat

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The question

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How it works

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Who does this work

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Ways in

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For you

About GHGSat

For you

Sources

How can you find an invisible gas from space?

GHGSat · Lists a Calgary office. Headquarters in Montreal.

Graphic-novel illustration of a scientist studying a colour-coded methane map on a screen, with a small satellite model on the desk.

Where it fits

Pick your class
  • Physics 30 · Electromagnetic radiation
  • Science 30 · Electromagnetic energy and environmental topics
  • Science 10 · Global energy systems, as a broader introduction

How it works

Schematic · not to scale

Measuring methane with reflected sunlight

Sunlight travels down to the ground near an industrial site, reflects, and travels back up through an invisible methane cloud to a satellite. The satellite’s spectrometer splits the light by wavelength. A small graph shows the light received dipping slightly, but not to zero, at the wavelengths methane absorbs.

  1. Sunlight travels down to the ground, including infrared we can’t see.

  2. Reflected sunlight travels back up through the air toward the satellite.

  3. A spectrometer splits the received light by wavelength. It sends out no light of its own.

Methane is invisible; the dashed outline marks its location. The graph shows light received vertically and wavelength horizontally: absorption makes dips, not zero light.

Methane measurement band: about 1,630–1,675 nanometres. Satellite altitude: about 500 km.

The lesson, in the real world

The physics of light lets a satellite about 500 km up measure a gas no one can see.

  1. 1

    Sunlight contains many wavelengths, including shortwave infrared light our eyes can’t see.

  2. 2

    Methane absorbs some of that light at particular wavelengths, between about 1,630 and 1,675 nanometres.

  3. 3

    The satellite’s spectrometer measures sunlight scattered back up from the ground. It sends out no light of its own.

  4. 4

    Where methane is present, a little less light arrives at those wavelengths. Analysts combine that dip with wind data to estimate how fast gas is escaping.

    Our explanation
Source: GHGSat: Technology(opens in a new tab); Jervis et al. 2021, The GHGSat-D imaging spectrometer (Atmos. Meas. Tech.)(opens in a new tab)

Who does this work

All roles in this example

Role

Satellite and instrument engineering

Design, build and test the instruments and spacecraft that take the measurements.

Work area named by GHGSatGeneral explanation, written by usSource: GHGSat: Our team(opens in a new tab); GHGSat: About us(opens in a new tab)

Instrument and satellite engineers make the hardware that collects the light. They fit a precise optical instrument into a small spacecraft, then test and calibrate it so its readings can be trusted in orbit.

What might you actually do?

  • Design the instrument

    Choose optics and detectors that can pick out the wavelengths methane absorbs.

  • Test and calibrate

    Check on the ground that the instrument measures what it should, using known light sources.

  • Support it in orbit

    Monitor performance after launch and help fix problems from the ground.

Typical of this kind of work in general. Not a description of any one person’s job at GHGSat.

Often works with
Atmospheric scientistsSoftware developersManufacturersLaunch providers
Classroom connection
Interference, wavelength and the behaviour of light are what make a spectrometer work.

Related job postings

Similar work at other employers in Calgary, AB, not openings at GHGSat. These are live searches: results change daily and we have not checked them.

Saved job examples

How employers have described this kind of work, saved on the date shown. Employers have not reviewed or endorsed this page.

  • Senior Instrument Scientist, Calibration TestingMuon Space · Mountain View, California, USAAccepting applications
    Employer posting · saved 25 Sep 2026

    Senior Instrument Scientist, Calibration Testing

    Muon Space

    A US space company. The posting says its instrument science team models, calibrates and validates an imaging instrument on its spacecraft. Not connected to GHGSat.

    Source: Senior Instrument Scientist, Calibration Testing, Muon Space(opens in a new tab)
    Location
    Mountain View, California, USA
    Work arrangement
    Hybrid, three office days a week
    Experience
    Senior, 5+ years of experience
    Posted
    24 Sep 2026

    Calibrate a satellite imaging instrument on the ground before launch.

    The work, in our words

    • Build the hardware and software used to calibrate the instrument on the ground.
    • Write the test procedures for calibration campaigns.
    • Report calibration results that show the instrument is ready to fly.
    • Take turns on call to help solve problems once it is in orbit.

    Skills the posting asks for

    Calibration of imaging instruments · Lab light sources such as integrating spheres and blackbodies · Programming (Python, Julia or C++) · Degree in engineering or physics

    “translating physics into orbital capability from concept through end of life” — Muon Space posting

    Classroom connection

    Interference, wavelength and the behaviour of light are what make a spectrometer work.

    Accepting applications when checked 25 Sep 2026

    Listed on Muon Space’s own job board when checked. The posting does not mention methane.

    Original posting(opens in a new tab)

How to prepare

  • Engineering Physics (BSc)

    University of Calgary, Schulich School of Engineering

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Ways in

For your students

Ways to prepare for this work

Programs that teach skills this work uses. Each is one route in, not a requirement, and no program has endorsed this page.

Showing routes for satellite and instrument engineering. Show all

  • University of Calgary, Schulich School of EngineeringUniversity degreeCalgary

    Engineering Physics (BSc)

    Physics combined with electrical and mechanical engineering. One focus area covers aerospace, toward aircraft, rockets and satellites for near-earth orbit.

    Official program page(opens in a new tab)

    Why it connects to the work · our interpretation

    Satellite and instrument engineering

    The program page says graduates can develop new instruments, measurement techniques or prototype systems, and names satellites in its aerospace focus.

Ask the class

Use it in class

Ask the class

If a sensor detects no methane, does that prove none is present? What would you want to know about the instrument and the observation conditions?

Detecting a gas, estimating how much is escaping, and deciding what to do are different tasks. Instruments, analysis and the people interpreting results all contribute.

Mindset it shows

Understand measurement limits before drawing conclusions.

About GHGSat

Measuring methane emissions from space, and from aircraft.

Headquarters
Montreal, Quebec.
Source: GHGSat: Offices(opens in a new tab)
Local connection
Lists a Calgary office on 5th Avenue SW, one of five offices. The company does not say which teams work there.
Source: GHGSat: Offices(opens in a new tab); GHGSat: About us(opens in a new tab)
Team size
More than 100 people. The About page says 150+ across five offices; the Team page says 100+ (both September 2026).
Source: GHGSat: About us(opens in a new tab); GHGSat: Our team(opens in a new tab)
The problem
Methane leaks from industrial sites are invisible and were mostly self-reported. GHGSat says that when it started in 2011, 75% of industrial emissions had no independent monitoring.
Source: GHGSat: About us(opens in a new tab)
What they do
Measurements of methane at the level of a single site, turned into emission rates that people can act on.
Source: GHGSat home page(opens in a new tab); GHGSat: Technology(opens in a new tab)
Who uses it
Oil and gas operators, landfills, mining, agriculture, governments and financial institutions, according to the company.
Source: GHGSat home page(opens in a new tab)

GHGSat describes itself as a greenhouse gas emissions intelligence company. It uses its own satellites and aircraft to measure methane from industrial sites around the world. It says it has launched 16 satellites.

Source: GHGSat home page(opens in a new tab); GHGSat: Satellite constellation(opens in a new tab)
Company website(opens in a new tab)Careers page(opens in a new tab)
Who does this work

Read each source’s date and scope: a documented role is not proof of a current vacancy or of where every position is based.

Reported as GHGSat states it. GHGSat has not reviewed or endorsed this page.

Recent development

Free with signup

GHGSat plans a second-generation satellite for early 2028

Published 21 Sep 2026 · Company announcement

Sources and course fit

Sources checked 24–29 Sep 2026

Where it fits

  • Physics 30 · Electromagnetic radiation
  • Science 30 · Electromagnetic energy and environmental topics
  • Science 10 · Global energy systems, as a broader introduction

Editorial mapping to published CBE course topics. Pending educator review. No outcome-code alignment is claimed.

Organization claims are reported as the organization states them. GHGSat has not reviewed or endorsed this page.

What we know, and how
TypeClaimHow we know
workSatellite instruments measure methane, with a spectrometer at their heart.Source: Satellite technologyCompany-stated
rolesSatellite engineering, atmospheric science, software, data science, commercial.Source: GHGSat offices and work areasObserved · not vacancies
pathwaysPhysics, engineering, computing and data study.Source: UCalgary engineering physicsInferred direction
newsA second-generation satellite is planned for early 2028.Source: Second-generation satellite announcement, 21 Sep 2026Projected · not operating
course fitPhysics 30, Science 30, Science 10.Source: CBE Physics 20–30 topics; CBE Science 10–30 topicsEditorial · pending review

Solid green: the organization states it. Outlined: seen in a dated source. Dashed: our interpretation, not yet researched, or announced but not yet real.