Monitoring Methane Emissions from Rice Paddies in Middle Taiwan Using Remote Sensing Data.

Methane (CH₄) emissions from paddy rice fields significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and global climate change. In Taiwan, rice cultivation occupies approximately 20% of agricultural land. This study utilizes Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-5P satellite data to monitor methane emissions from these fields. The research follows four key steps: 1) classifying rice cropping areas; 2) detecting the phenological stages of rice; 3) correlating spatial and temporal data with rice cultivation and methane emissions; and 4) validating the results with in-situ data. The preliminary findings identify methane emission hotspots during the rice-growing seasons, revealing substantial temporal variability linked to agricultural practices such as water management, organic matter application, and rice phenology. Peak emissions occur during the early to mid-growing stages. The adoption of satellite data for monitoring emissions offers a cost-effective and scalable alternative to traditional methods, which are often labor-intensive and geographically limited. The research can also enhance the sustainable agricultural management strategies for achieving local greenhouse gas reduction targets.