As the world moves towards a more sustainable and climate-respectful future, it is essential to understand the sources of methane emissions to assess the Earth’s atmosphere’s ability to trap solar heat.
Methane is an extremely potent greenhouse gas that plays a crucial role in global warming. Despite its relevance, its emissions often go unnoticed.
A recent study has identified the top 10 regions worldwide where methane is constantly released, either due to natural causes, such as wetlands, or human activities, such as oil extraction and coal burning.
Research and detection of methane emissions
Researchers analyzed data from numerous potential methane sources. For this, they used satellite information obtained by the Copernicus Sentinel-5P mission, which allowed estimating emissions in 217 locations. Instead of focusing on “super emitters” like oil, gas, coal mines, or poorly managed landfills, the study focused on sources that emit methane consistently over time.
The research used a new dataset of methane concentration and an algorithm developed at the University of Bremen, as part of the ESA Climate Change Initiative and the Methane CAMP and SMART-CH4 projects.
Main methane emitters and natural sources
Experts analyzed methane concentrations in various locations between 2018 and 2021. Any site where methane levels were consistently high compared to nearby areas was identified as a persistent emitter.
According to 2021 data, the highest concentrations reached 1,900 parts per billion (ppb) in some regions, while the lowest hovered around 1,700 ppb.
The analysis identified the Sudd wetland in South Sudan as the world’s largest persistent methane emitter, with 4.5 million tons annually. Another notable wetland was the Iberá in Argentina, with a production of 3.3 million tons annually.
Anthropogenic methane emissions and challenges
Human activities were responsible for the remaining eight largest persistent emission hotspots. The largest anthropogenic emissions came from oil and gas fields on the west coast of Turkmenistan, with 3.5 million tons of methane annually.
Other significant sources included:
- Coal mines in China and the Kuznetsk Basin, Russia.
- Oil and gas fields in the U.S. (Permian and Delaware Basins).
- Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Liaoning, China, where emissions come from wastewater management, enteric fermentation of livestock, and rice paddies.
Strategies to address the methane challenge
Identifying methane emission sources is just the first step. Specific strategies are needed to manage or reduce them.
Unlike CO2, methane remains in the atmosphere for a relatively short period but has a much higher warming potential. This means that reducing its emissions immediately could have a rapid effect on slowing down climate change.
Governments and industries have started prioritizing methane mitigation. The Global Methane Initiative, launched at COP26, aims to reduce at least 30% of emissions by 2030, with commitments from over 150 countries.
Cover photo: Getty Images
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