Over the summer, scientists flew over the largest shale gas producing regions in the United States, including the Marcellus Shale, to measure methane emissions related to shale gas drilling, according to State Impact Pennsylvania.

The data is still being studied.

Read it:

“Scientists from the University of Colorado Boulder and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are still studying the data gathered in June and July to determine how much of the regions’ methane might come from natural gas operations, but the results promise to provide the first published “top-down” estimates of how much methane is leaking during gas extraction from the Marcellus, Fayetteville and Haynesville shales.”

Top-down estimates are calculated by studying concentrations of methane and other gasses in the atmosphere.

Scientists are studying how much methane and carbon dioxide are released during the fracturing process. Methane is a more potent, but shorter-lived greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.

» Via: State Impact Pennsylvania » Research flight to provide new estimates of Marcellus methane leaks