Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Environment & Energy
Related: About this forumAmerica’s Methane Crisis Just Got Worse
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/600914/americas-methane-crisis-just-got-worse/[font face=Serif][font size=5]Americas Methane Crisis Just Got Worse[/font]
[font size=4]Emissions of the potent greenhouse gas are far higher than previously thought, according to new studies.[/font]
by Richard Martin | February 29, 2016
[font size=3]Emissions of methane in the United States are far higher than previously understood, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Its something scientists have known for some time, but new figures released by the agency confirm that weve been lowballing our estimates of methane emissions. The revelation, announced last week by EPA administrator Gina McCarthy, showed among other things that methane emissions in 2013 were 27 percent higher than previous estimates.
The bad news came on the heels of the end of the Aliso Canyon natural gas leak in Southern California, arguably the largest such disaster ever. For four months, the ruptured gas-well complex spewed thousands of tons of methane into the atmosphere, a greenhouse gas 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide for the first 20 years it is in the atmosphere. The accident essentially doubled the (methane) emission rate of the entire Los Angeles Basin, and in total released 97,100 metric tonnes of methane to the atmosphere, according to a paper in Science.
Methane is emitted from equipment failures, like the Aliso Canyon disaster, but also from smaller undetected leaks and routine flaring of excess gas from oil wells. Gas lost annually due to leaks and flaring is worth $1.4 billion at 2015 prices, according to the EPA.
One reason that estimates of methane emissions vary so widely is that the gas is odorless, colorless, and dissipates quickly. Official figures dont even include methane from superemitters like the Aliso Canyon event. The scientists who produced the Science study had to fly a small aircraft over the leak in order to measure how much gas it was emitting.
[/font][/font]
[font size=4]Emissions of the potent greenhouse gas are far higher than previously thought, according to new studies.[/font]
by Richard Martin | February 29, 2016
[font size=3]Emissions of methane in the United States are far higher than previously understood, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Its something scientists have known for some time, but new figures released by the agency confirm that weve been lowballing our estimates of methane emissions. The revelation, announced last week by EPA administrator Gina McCarthy, showed among other things that methane emissions in 2013 were 27 percent higher than previous estimates.
The bad news came on the heels of the end of the Aliso Canyon natural gas leak in Southern California, arguably the largest such disaster ever. For four months, the ruptured gas-well complex spewed thousands of tons of methane into the atmosphere, a greenhouse gas 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide for the first 20 years it is in the atmosphere. The accident essentially doubled the (methane) emission rate of the entire Los Angeles Basin, and in total released 97,100 metric tonnes of methane to the atmosphere, according to a paper in Science.
Methane is emitted from equipment failures, like the Aliso Canyon disaster, but also from smaller undetected leaks and routine flaring of excess gas from oil wells. Gas lost annually due to leaks and flaring is worth $1.4 billion at 2015 prices, according to the EPA.
One reason that estimates of methane emissions vary so widely is that the gas is odorless, colorless, and dissipates quickly. Official figures dont even include methane from superemitters like the Aliso Canyon event. The scientists who produced the Science study had to fly a small aircraft over the leak in order to measure how much gas it was emitting.
[/font][/font]
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
3 replies, 917 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (14)
ReplyReply to this post
3 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
America’s Methane Crisis Just Got Worse (Original Post)
OKIsItJustMe
Mar 2016
OP
Climate change and the sixth global mass-extinction event is happening now
SoLeftIAmRight
Mar 2016
#1
SoLeftIAmRight
(4,883 posts)1. Climate change and the sixth global mass-extinction event is happening now
and far too many think Hillary is what we need
GliderGuider
(21,088 posts)2. If we are already over the precipice of collapse
I don't understand how party or personality politics is supposed to help. Are there parties or candidates that can reverse the laws of nature?
I would understand if we weren't past the tipping point yet, but (as far as I can tell) we are.
SoLeftIAmRight
(4,883 posts)3. I agree -
we do not know how the changes will unfold
Sanders is more than willing to keep the issue alive as the reality that it is - no so with many others
At least we can plan for a more organized response