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Conflicting estimates of natural geologic methane emissions
Language
English
Obiettivo Specifico
6A. Geochimica per l'ambiente e geologia medica
Status
Published
JCR Journal
JCR Journal
Title of the book
Issue/vol(year)
1/9 (2021)
Publisher
University of California Press
Pages (printed)
00031
Issued date
2021
Abstract
Global bottom-up and top-down estimates of natural, geologic methane (CH4) emissions (average
approximately 45 Tg yr–1) have recently been questioned by near-zero (approximately 1.6 Tg yr–1) estimates
based on measurements of 14CH4 trapped in ice cores, which imply that current fossil fuel industries’ CH4
emissions are underestimated by 25%–40%. As we show here, such a global near-zero geologic CH4 emission
estimate is incompatible with multiple independent, bottom-up emission estimates from individual natural
geologic seepage areas, each of which is of the order of 0.1–3 Tg yr–1. Further research is urgently needed to
resolve the conundrum before rejecting either method or associated emission estimates in global CH4
accounting.
approximately 45 Tg yr–1) have recently been questioned by near-zero (approximately 1.6 Tg yr–1) estimates
based on measurements of 14CH4 trapped in ice cores, which imply that current fossil fuel industries’ CH4
emissions are underestimated by 25%–40%. As we show here, such a global near-zero geologic CH4 emission
estimate is incompatible with multiple independent, bottom-up emission estimates from individual natural
geologic seepage areas, each of which is of the order of 0.1–3 Tg yr–1. Further research is urgently needed to
resolve the conundrum before rejecting either method or associated emission estimates in global CH4
accounting.
Type
article
File(s)
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Name
Thornton et al 2021 Elementa.pdf
Description
Open Access published article
Size
711.44 KB
Format
Adobe PDF
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