Articles tagged with Methane Emissions
A new study by University of Guelph researcher Prof. Merritt Turetsky and her team found that wetlands are a significant source of methane emissions, which could contribute to global warming. The study analyzed almost 20,000 field data measurements from across arctic, temperate, and tropical regions and suggests that northern wetlands ...
Researchers used airborne laboratory to measure methane gas above shale gas wells during drilling phase, finding high-emitting wells contributing large portion of total emissions. This discovery could lead to development new methods inventory methane emissions and better define environmental impacts of shale gas development.
New research shows methane emissions from microorganisms in lake sediment and freshwater wetlands will increase several times as temperatures rise, outpacing CO2 emissions. The study provides a measurement scientists can use to model methane's contribution to climate change.
A study by two students at Linköping University found that aquatic environments in India emit 42% of expected natural carbon dioxide equivalents, highlighting the importance of reducing fossil carbon emissions. Methane accounts for 71% of these emissions, providing a potential pathway to reduction through water pollution mitigation.
A recent study published in Science reveals that methane emissions from natural gas systems can have a significant impact on the climate benefits of switching to natural gas. The research suggests that more efforts should be made to reduce methane leaks and improve measurement tools for policy-making. Additionally, the study identifies...
A new analysis confirms the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) underestimation of US methane emissions from natural gas systems. The study found that even small leaks from the system are important due to methane's potency as a greenhouse gas.
A new study published in Environmental Research Letters reveals the US and China are among the 7 countries most accountable for global warming. The study assigns a temperature change value to each country reflecting its contribution to observed global warming, with the US responsible for a significant 20% of the observed warming.
Studies conducted by Berkeley Lab researchers suggest that methane emissions from oil and gas production may account for a significant portion of underestimated emissions in California and nationwide. The research found that methane emissions are 1.3 to 1.8 times higher than current official inventory estimates in California.
A new study published in PNAS found that total US methane emissions may be 50% higher than government estimates, with large discrepancies in the south-central region. The study's findings have implications for national and state greenhouse gas reduction strategies.
A study published in PNAS found that US methane emissions are nearly five times higher than previously estimated, with fossil fuel extraction and refining activities accounting for a major contributor. Livestock operations may also be twice as high as previously thought.
A new study published in Science suggests that the increase in methane gas concentrations in the atmosphere from 5,000 years ago to the start of the industrial revolution was caused by both natural and human activities. The research, led by Logan Mitchell at Oregon State University, found that natural emissions from tropical wetlands a...
Researchers have found that thawing permafrost in the Canadian Arctic increases methane emissions by 83% through small shallow ponds, which could accelerate global warming.
A new analysis suggests that reducing only short-lived climate pollutants like soot and methane will have a smaller impact on limiting global warming. Focusing on all greenhouse gases is necessary to stabilize the climate system.
Scientists found that methane bubbles out of water behind small dams, increasing global freshwater emissions by up to 7%. The study reveals that dam construction can significantly impact the environment.
University of Calgary researchers plan to deploy and test inexpensive methane biofilters to reduce low-volume methane emissions in the petroleum, forest, and agriculture industries. The project aims to convert methane to carbon dioxide, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and their contribution to global warming.
A UC Santa Barbara scientist and team found significant benefits to slowing climate change from reducing industrial methane emissions. Methane levels were highest near refineries, with nighttime concentrations enhanced by calm atmospheric layers.
A nationwide field study will quantify methane emissions throughout US natural gas distribution systems to estimate national emissions rates. The study aims to improve energy policies and management practices for a cleaner environment.
Researchers found that nitrous oxide emissions in California may account for 8% of total greenhouse gas emissions, with a potential impact on the state's 2020 emission reduction targets. The study used a new method combining atmospheric measurements and model predictions to estimate N2O levels.
A UT Austin study aims to quantify methane emission rates from natural gas production sites using direct measurement techniques. The study brings together industry stakeholders and researchers to better understand and manage emissions from well sites.
A recent study found that rice paddies are a significant source of the potent greenhouse gas methane. The research team discovered that increasing carbon dioxide levels and rising temperatures boost rice yields but also increase methane emissions, highlighting the need for mitigation efforts to ensure a secure global food supply.
Researchers have determined that methane emissions in the Greenland ice sheet date back to Roman times, with a significant increase around 1800 due to industrialization. Today, more than half of methane emissions are man-made, primarily from agriculture and energy production.
Researchers at Washington State University found that dams and reservoirs emit significant amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The study's findings suggest that managing drawdowns could reduce methane emissions and may even make decommissioning reservoirs a net sink for carbon.
A mathematical model suggests that sauropods could have produced more methane than all modern sources combined. The study calculates global methane emissions from sauropods to be around 520 million tons per year, comparable to total modern methane emissions.
A 15-year study found that artificial wetlands can take up more carbon from the atmosphere than natural ones, but may release methane. Both types of wetlands removed large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus from river water. The study suggests long-term ecological research is useful for determining human intervention's success.
Research in Greenland and Antarctica shows that fossil-fuel related emissions of methane and ethane declined at the end of the twentieth century. The study, led by Murat Aydin, found a common cause for the decline in both gases, linked to changes in energy use.
A recent study found that hydroelectric reservoirs emit significantly less carbon dioxide and methane than previously estimated, with an annual emission of 48 million metric tons. The research analyzed 85 globally-distributed reservoirs and concluded that these systems are not major contributors to the greenhouse gas problem.
Agricultural Research Service scientists monitored emissions from a commercial dairy in southern Idaho, revealing that open-lot pens generate the majority of facility's ammonia, nitrous oxide, and methane emissions. The study provides detailed data on how large-scale dairy facilities contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers tested biofilter systems to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from old landfills, finding the radial design outperformed the vertical design in methane oxidation rates. The technology could significantly mitigate global warming impacts.
Researchers sequenced the microbial communities inside a Tammar wallaby's gut, identifying a bacterium that could help reduce methane emissions in livestock. The study provides insights into the unique gut microbiome of macropods and may lead to strategies for modifying fermentation to produce less methane.
A study by the USDA found that keeping dairy cows outdoors year-round lowers ammonia emissions by 30% and greenhouse gas emissions by 8%. Well-managed outdoor dairy herds also sequester more carbon in fields converted to perennial grasslands.
A new study by Cornell University researchers finds that shale gas contributes significantly to global warming due to high methane emissions. The study's findings challenge the logic of using shale gas as a bridging fuel to reduce global warming.
A climate tax on meat and milk consumption could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from European agriculture by up to seven percent. Land made available for bioenergy production offers a six-time greater decrease in emissions.
A new study suggests that freshwater methane emissions impact the global balance of greenhouse gases, with a potential 25% change in net absorption rates. The research highlights the importance of including inland waters in carbon budgets, as they are more active in carbon processing than seas or land surfaces.
A team of scientists from the University of Missouri reviewed EPA greenhouse gas emission estimates for agricultural anaerobic lagoons, finding errors and potential underestimates by up to 65%. The study suggests that some manure storage facilities may exceed current reporting requirements.
A new study documents how climate, population density and factors affect GHG emissions in global cities, with Denver releasing the largest amount of gases and Barcelona the smallest. The study identifies strategies for reducing emissions, including carbon reduction and efficient transportation systems.
The UK's first dual-fuel diesel-biomethane powered bus will significantly reduce pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions. The innovative technology, developed in collaboration with the University of East Anglia and leading bus operators, aims to be rolled out across the country and further afield.
University of Calgary scientists discovered that stressed crops emit more methane, a potent greenhouse gas 23 times more effective than carbon dioxide. Climate change factors such as temperature, drought, and UV-B radiation enhance methane emissions from six Canadian crops.
Researchers at University College Dublin found that adding fish oil to the diet of cattle reduced methane emissions by affecting the gut bacteria. This discovery offers a targeted approach to mitigating methane's potent greenhouse gas effects.
Scientists investigate oil spray as a mitigation technique for reducing methane and carbon dioxide emissions from pig barns. The study found that oil spray techniques reduced average emissions by 20% for methane and 19% for carbon dioxide.
Growing plants and trees on landfills can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by four to five times. Phytocapping also cuts the cost of landfill remediation in half and provides biodiversity corridors. The technique uses a layer of top soil and dense vegetation to trap methane and water.
A team of MIT researchers has detected a new surge in methane levels, ending a decade-long period of stability. The increase is attributed to an imbalance between emissions and destruction, with the majority of emissions coming from the Northern Hemisphere.
A study suggests that flooding wetlands can lower methane gas emissions by half compared to steady flow conditions. Researchers found that pulses of water through wetlands resulted in lower average emissions over the course of the year.
A study analyzing sediments from a British bog found that methane emissions increased due to intense global warming around 55 million years ago. The team discovered that carbon isotope values of hopanoids suddenly decreased, indicating a shift in the diet of bacteria from carbon-based compounds to methane.
A recent study in Nature suggested plants emit methane, but a new study in New Phytologist found methane emissions from plants are negligible and do not contribute to global climate change. The researchers used a novel experiment with heavy carbon isotopes to detect any methane emission, which was undetectable.
Katey Walter, a University of Alaska Fairbanks graduate, has been awarded the nation's top dissertation honor by the Council of Graduate Schools. Her Ph.D. dissertation research identified a new method of measuring methane emissions from Siberian lakes, revealing significant greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on global warming. ...
Researchers at UCI found that atmospheric methane levels have remained nearly flat for seven years, indicating a possible slowdown in global warming threats. Methane pulses were paralleled by increases in ethane, supporting the theory that biomass burning is a significant source of methane.
A decline in methane emissions from human activities in the 1990s led to slower growth of atmospheric methane levels. However, recent increases in emissions from human sources are offset by reduced wetland emissions, which could mask further rises in methane if drying trends are not reversed.
A study suggests that plant methane emissions do not contribute to global warming, but rather are a natural part of the greenhouse effect. However, reforestation programs may be slightly impacted by these emissions, with potential benefits outweighing negative effects.
A NASA study finds that methane's impact on climate change may be significantly higher than previously thought, potentially accounting for a third of the gas's overall effect. The research suggests that methane emissions play a substantial role in increasing tropospheric ozone levels, which contributes to global warming.
A computer model developed by Brink found that reducing ammonia emission can increase nitrous oxide and methane emissions. The most effective measures to decrease all three emissions involve adjusting feed, improving fertiliser use, and increasing animal productivity.
Researchers found that mid-season drainage of rice paddies in China led to significant reductions in methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas. The study, which used NASA data and modeling, estimates that this practice saved around 5 million metric tons of methane per year.
The study found that conventional diesel buses produce nitrogen oxide pollutants contributing to photochemical smog and fine soot particles. Laser sensors measured pollutant levels in exhaust plumes from different bus types, revealing varying pollution problems.
A study by Arlene M. Fiore and colleagues suggests that reducing manmade methane emissions could have a greater impact on global ozone levels than reducing nitrogen oxide emissions. This reduction in methane would also help decrease greenhouse warming and surface air pollution.
A recent study by University of Illinois researchers suggests that including methane in emission-reduction strategies can significantly lower overall costs. The study found that methane can offset carbon dioxide reductions and reduce U.S. abatement costs by more than 25 percent compared to strategies involving carbon dioxide alone.
A cost-effective method to eliminate methane emissions from coal mines has been developed by Natural Resources Canada. The system uses a secret catalyst to oxidize methane to water and CO2, generating heat and electricity in the process.