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Atmospheric methane increase during Covid due primarily to wetland flooding

Envirotec Magazine

A new analysis of satellite data appears to find that the record surge in atmospheric methane emissions from 2020 to 2022 was driven by increased inundation and water storage in wetlands, combined with a slight decrease in atmospheric hydroxide (OH). Atmospheric methane emissions are given by their mass in teragrams.

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Exploring underwater methane sources with mass spectrometry

Envirotec Magazine

In December 2022 the research vessel Polarstern explored methane sources in the South Atlantic using an underwater mass spectrometer. Enormous amounts of methane are trapped in the ocean floor worldwide. Methane is a harmful greenhouse gas. The higher the data density, the more accurate the mapping of methane sources.

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Coal: A crucial methane opportunity

EDF + Business

By Leanna Tang and Andrew Howell, CFA Methane emissions have recently come into focus as a major contributor to global warming. Significant advances in methane measurement and abatement could serve as useful tools as we turn our sights to the second largest source of methane from the energy sector: coal.

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Travel emissions drop added to lockdown methane surge, says new research

Envirotec Magazine

More than half of the 50 per cent jump in methane’s growth rate between 2019 and 2020 was the result of reduced emissions from road transport, railways and planes during lockdowns, the study found. Until now, the causes of the 2020 surge in methane – second only to carbon dioxide as a driver of climate change – had been unclear.

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Cheltenham methane leak detected from space

Envirotec Magazine

In what seems to be a first, a UK methane leak has been spotted from space, and mitigated. Methane leaking from a faulty pipe in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, was picked up by satellites orbiting 500km overhead in April 2023. The source, near Cheltenham, was releasing methane at a rate of over 200 kg/hr.

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UK substantially underestimates its methane emissions from oil and gas production – and many other countries probably do too

Envirotec Magazine

A newer, more accurate method for calculating methane emissions from offshore oil and gas production suggests that the United Kingdom severely underestimates its greenhouse gas emissions. Researchers conclude that as much as five times more methane is being leaked from oil and gas production than reported.

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Methane over Poland’s coal mines: Satellite analysis from ESA

Envirotec Magazine

According to the European Commission and the European Environment Agency, the top 10 largest methane emitting coal mines in Europe are in Poland. Collectively, these mines released around 282,300 tonnes of methane into the atmosphere in 2020.

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