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The researcher from the Universitat Politècnica de València Luis Guanter Palomar has received the Distinction of the Generalitat to the Scientific Merit in recognition of his research excellence in the development of satellite methods for environmental applications. Guanter received this distinction as part of the institutional events held on the Day of the Valencian Community.

'For me, it is a real source of pride and great joy because of the recognition it represents, fundamentally, for the work we are doing in our group at the UPV, but also because of the visibility it gives to our field of research, which is environmental sciences,' said Luis Guanter.

Luis Guanter is currently the head of the Land and Atmospheric Remote Sensing (LARS) group at the Research Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering at the Universitat Politècnica de València. With a degree in Physics and a PhD in Environmental Physics from the Universitat de València, after several postdoctoral positions in the UK and Germany, he joined the Universitat Politècnica de València in 2019 through the Talent Attraction Plan.

‘Research is my passion’

'Research is my passion, especially for the technical part and for being able to work side by side with colleagues in my group. I enjoy science because I also believe it is very important for society; without a doubt, I can't think of a better job,' says Luis Guanter, who encourages all those who want to dedicate themselves to research to 'go for it. It's a hard road because it's complicated to stabilise yourself. After all, you need mobility... but it's worth it.

Author of more than a hundred scientific publications, Luis Guanter is a senior scientist at the environmental organisation Environmental Research Fund. In 2023, he received the International Frontiers Planet Award, which recognises the work of scientists around the world to secure the future of the planet. In January of this year, he was honoured, for the fifth consecutive year, as one of the most influential researchers in the field of Earth Sciences.

Methane detection

The research group led by Luis Guanter works on the use of image spectroscopy techniques with instruments on board satellites for the detection and monitoring of methane emissions at a global level and collaborates with international institutions such as the European Space Agency (ESA), NASA and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The information obtained through these studies and measurements allows progress to be made in detecting the points or infrastructures responsible for the largest methane leaks on a global scale.

'The detection of methane emissions on the planet is of great importance. It is a dangerous gas with a higher global warming potential per molecule than carbon dioxide, responsible for about one-third of global warming. Therefore, it is extremely important to detect it to try to mitigate emissions, especially in those sectors where it is easier to do so, such as the gas and oil industry,' explains Guanter.

The UPV Researcher is currently working on testing a satellite of the NGO Environmental Research Fund dedicated to methane, which was launched last May and whose data will be made public towards the end of this year.

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