Abstract
I WAS recently amazed by some night-time spacecraft photographs, exemplified by Fig. 1, that present graphic evidence of waste and pollution. These were obtained by the United States Air Force DAPP system which has sensors in the visible 0.4 to 1.1 µm band and an infrared imaging system in the 8 to 13 µm band (ref. 1 and J. L. McLucas, personal communication). The visible band sensor is Capable of responding to very dim light with a controllable threshold (T. O. Haig, personal communication) and it provided these pictures. The lights of cities are clearly visible, as are the aurora, surface features illuminated by moonlight, and fires such as those caused by burning gas from oil fields and refineries. Much power is evidently being generated to light the cities of the world since at the inhabited areas are clearly outlined. It is also apparent that, in the process of extracting liquid petroleum from beneath the surface of the Earth, abundant gas supply has been discovered but is not used. Being unable to contain the gas or to transport it to a user, it is simply burnt.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aviation Week and Space Technology, 98 (11), 18 (March 12, 1973).
Clydesdale, D. D.-H., and McIntyre, D. F., The Pilot's Book of Everest (William Hodge, London, 1936).
Natn. geogr. Mag., 135, 636 (1969).
Gregory, D. P., Sci. Am., 228, 13 (January 1973).
Nature, 243, 184 (1973).
Winsche, W. E., Hoffman, K. C., and Salzano, F. J., Science N. Y., 180, 1325 (1973).
Hooker, J. D., Himalayan Journals (John Murray, London, 1855).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
CROFT, T. Burning Waste Gas in Oil Fields. Nature 245, 375–376 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/245375a0
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/245375a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.