We identified a significant regional flux of methane over a large area of shale gas wells in southwestern Pennsylvania in the Marcellus formation and further identified several pads
with high methane emissions.
The analysis revealed noticeably
higher methane emissions from streams and rivers in watersheds marked with heavy agriculture, urban development or the presence of dams.
During the discovery of New Zealand's methane seeps, an unexpectedly dense habitat of heterotrophic infauna, dominated by ampharetid polychaetes, was found to co-occur with
incredibly high methane emission.
I would like to see a discussion of the likelihood that factors traditionally viewed as slow response feedback factors (such as Arctic albedo, or
high methane emissions permafrost degradation) may actually become faster response feedback factors.
However, they note that some oil and gas fields do not appear to have
similarly high methane emissions, suggesting that such leaks could be stemmed by improved drilling techniques and well designs.
The
second highest methane emissions are attained in the B2 marker, which also has a «regional» orientation, but with a more environmentally sustainable emphasis as compared to the A2 marker.
Although recent models predict that a small net accumulation of carbon will occur in Arctic tundra during the present century (low confidence),
higher methane emissions responding to the thawing of permafrost and an overall increase in wetlands will enhance radiative forcing (medium confidence).
These shale gas pads were identified as in the drilling process, a preproduction stage not previously associated
with high methane emissions.
This, along with changes in livestock management, can lead to
higher methane emissions.
This, along with changes in livestock management, can lead to
higher methane emissions,» says Julie Wolff of the US Department of Agriculture, the senior author.
«This, along with changes in livestock management, can lead to
higher methane emissions.»