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Global Climate Change Digest
A Guide to Information on Greenhouse Gases and Ozone Depletion
Published July 1988 through June 1999

FROM VOLUME 7, NUMBER 1, JANUARY 1994

PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS...

• ANTHROPOGENIC METHANE EMISSIONS

Item #d94jan9

Two items from J. Geophys. Res., 21(1), Jan. 1, 1994:

"A Dramatic Decrease in the Growth Rate of Atmospheric Methane in the Northern Hemisphere During 1992," E.J. Dlugokencky (CMDL, NOAA, 325 Broadway, Boulder CO 80303), K.A. Masaire et al., Geophys. Res. Lett., 21(1), 45-48, Jan. 1, 1994.

Global measurements show that the average trend in 1992 was only a sixth of that for 1983-1991. A major factor may be decreased emissions from the former Soviet Union resulting from a more efficient natural gas system and reduced coal production. Measurements suggest that modest decreases in anthropogenic emissions can lead to rapid stabilization of, or a decrease in, the atmospheric methane burden.

"Methane in Groundwater Used for Japanese Agriculture: Its Relationship to Other Physico-Chemical Properties and Possible Tropospheric Source Strength," A. Watanabe (Lab. Soil Biol. & Chem., Sch. Agric. Sci., Nagoya Univ., Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-01, Japan), M. Kimura et al., 41-44. Agricultural groundwater use released CH4 equivalent to about 1.4% of the production from soil organic matter in rice paddies.

Item #d94jan10

Two items from Global Biogeochem. Cycles, 7(4), Dec. 1993:

"Methane Consumption and Carbon Dioxide Emission in Tallgrass Prairie: Effects of Biomass Burning and Conversion to Agriculture," C.M. Tate (Water Resour. Div., USGS, Box 25046, MS 413, Denver CO 80225), R.G. Striegl, 735-748. Compares measurements on unburned and annually burned tallgrass prairie and adjacent agricultural plots in Kansas, to determine influences of land use, soil depth and temperature, and crop management.

"Terrestrial Ecosystem Production: A Process Model Based on Global Satellite and Surface Data," C.S. Potter (Johnson Controls, NASA-Ames, Moffet Field CA 94035), J.T. Randerson et al., 811-841. The model approach described is aimed at seasonal resolution of global climatic and edaphic controls on patterns of terrestrial ecosystem production and soil microbial respiration.

"Methane Flux from Drained Northern Peatlands: Effect of a Persistent Water Table Lowering on Flux," N.T. Roulet (Dept. Geog., McGill Univ., Montreal PQ H3A 2K6, Can.), R. Ash et al., 749-769. Measurements at three diverse sites in Ontario suggest that a small drop in soil moisture would significantly reduce CH4 flux from northern peatlands.

Item #d94jan11

"Methane Emissions from Municipal Wastewater Treatment Processes," P.M. Czepiel (Complex Sys. Res. Ctr., Morse Hall, Univ. New Hampshire, Durham NH 03824), P.M. Crill, R.C. Harriss, Environ. Sci. Technol., 27(12), 2472-2477, Nov. 1993. Winter and summer measurements indicate emissions of 39 g person-1 year-1.

Item #d94jan12

"Methane Production from Global Biomass Burning," W.M. Hao (Intermountain Res. Sta., USDA For. Serv., POB 8089, Missoula MT 59807), D.E. Ward, J. Geophys. Res., 98(D11), 20,657-20,661, Nov. 20, 1993.

Estimates emissions from tropical, temperate and boreal regions by source. Tropical areas produce 85% of emissions; emissions may have increased at least 9% during the past decade because of increased tropical deforestation and the use of fuelwood.

Item #d94jan13

"Atmospheric Methane, Record from a Greenland Ice Core Over the Last 1000 Year," T. Blunier (Phys. Inst., Univ. Bern, Sidlerstr. 5, 3012 Bern, Switz.), J.A. Chappellaz et al., Geophys. Res. Lett. 20(20), 2219-2222, Oct. 22, 1993.

The beginning of the anthropogenic methane increase can be set between 1750 and 1800. Specific reasons are hard to deduce, but population data from China suggest that humans may have influenced the methane cycle before industrialization.

Item #d94jan14

Two items from Geophys. Res. Lett., 20(19), Oct. 8, 1993:

"Estimation of Methane Discharge from a Plume: A Case of Landfill," Y. Tohjima (Lab. Earthquake Chem., Univ. Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113, Japan), H. Wakita, 2067-2070. Estimates emissions of 3-5 x 108 g/day for a 2 x 106 m2 landfill.

"First Records of a Field Experiment on Fertilizer Effects on Methane Emission from Rice Fields in Hunan Province (PR China)," R. Wassmann (Fraunhofer Inst., Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Ger.), M.X. Wang et al., 2071-2074. Measurements indicate that extensive use of specific chemical fertilizers and the application of sludge from biogas generators could reduce emissions from rice fields.

Item #d94jan15

Two items from Atmos. Environ., 27A(11), Aug. 1993:

"An Open Chamber Technique for Determination of Methane Emission from Stored Livestock Manure," S. Husted (Danish Inst. Plant Sci., POB 23, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark), 1635-1642. Emissions are highly variable, and annual estimates should be based on frequent (at least weekly) measurements.

"Methane Flux Measurements from Paddy Fields in the Tropical Indian Region," S. Lal (Phys. Res. Lab., Ahmedabad, India 380 009), S. Venkataramani, B.H. Subbaraya, 1691-1694. Results give values higher than reported for some other regions of India, but lower than for China.

Item #d94jan16

"Methane Emissions from Louisiana First and Ratoon Crop Rice," C.W. Lindau (Wetland Biogeochem. Inst., Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge LA 70803), P.K. Bollich, Soil Sci., 156(1), 42-48, July 1993. Field experiments investigated the effects of fertilizers and rice straw left from first harvest.

Item #d94jan17

"Carbon Dioxide and Methane Fluxes from Drained Peat Soils, Southern Quebec," S. Glenn (Dept. Geog., McGill Univ., Montreal PQ H3A 2K6, Can.), A. Hayes, T. Moore, Global Biogeochem. Cycles, 7(2), 247-258, July 1993. Results suggest that drainage of temperate peatlands has reduced methane emissions by 0.6 - 1 x 1012 g/yr.

Item #d94jan18

"Diffusion-Controlled Transport of Methane from Soil to Atmosphere as Mediated by Rice Plants," H.A.C. Denier van der Gon (Dept. Soil Sci., Agric. Univ. Wageningen, POB 37, 6700 AA Wageningen, Neth.), N. van Breemen, Biogeochem., 21(3), 177-190, June 1993.

Results suggest that the rate-limiting step in plant-mediated methane transport is diffusion of CH4 across the root/shoot interface.

Item #d94jan19

"Experimental Study on Methane Production Rate in Rice Paddy Soil," Shangguan Xingjian (Inst. Atmos. Phys., Chinese Acad. Sci., Beijing 100029, China), W. Mingxing et al., Chinese J. Atmos. Sci., 17(3), 313-320, 1993.

Observations show a wide variation in production at different soil depths, no correlation with soil temperature, and dependence on other factors such as fertilizers and season.

Item #d94jan20

"Future Methane Emissions from Animals," C. Anastasi (Dept. Chem., Univ. York, York Y01 5DD, UK), V.J. Simpson, J. Geophys. Res., 98(D4), 7181-7186, Apr. 20, 1993.

Emissions from cattle, sheep and buffalo, modeled based on population projections, future land availability and nutritional content of feedstocks, are estimated to increase from 84 Tg/yr in 1990 to 119 Tg/yr by 2025.

Item #d94jan21

"Factors Affecting Methane Production Under Rice," C.C. Delwiche (Dept. Land Resour., Univ. California, Davis CA 95616), R.J. Cicerone, Global Biogeochem. Cycles, 7(1), 143-156, Mar. 1993.

Reports greenhouse and laboratory studies over three growing seasons to study factors such as soil texture, exogenous organic matter, nitrogen and sulfate ion, and water management.

Item #d94jan22

"Methane Production and Its Fate in Paddy Fields. 3. Effects of Percolation on Methane Flux Distribution to the Atmosphere and the Subsoil," J. Murase (Sch. Agric., Nagoya Univ., Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 46401, Japan), M. Kimura, S. Kuwatsuka, Soil Sci. & Plant Nutrition, 39(1), 63-70, Mar. 1993.

Item #d94jan23

"Quantification of Methane Emissions from Chinese Rice Fields (Zhejiang Province) as Influenced by Fertilizer Treatment," R. Wassmann (Fraunhofer Inst. Atmos. Umweltforsch., Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Ger.), H. Schütz et al., Biogeochem., 20(2), 83-101, Feb. 1993.

Data from an automatic field system showed pronounced interannual variations, and indicated total emissions from Chinese rice fields of 18-28 Tg/yr.

Item #d94jan24

"Estimate on Methane Emission from China," W. Mingxing (Inst. Atmos. Phys., Chinese Acad. Sci., Beijing 100029, China), D. Aiguo et al., Chinese J. Atmos. Sci., 17(1), 49-62, 1993.

Examination of emissions from rice fields and other sources leads to an estimate for 1988 of 35 x 1012 g, half from rice fields. This could increase to 40 x 1012 g by the year 2000, due to increases from ruminants and coal mines.

Item #d94jan25

"Methane Production by Sheep and Cattle in Australia," D.J. Minson (Cunningham Lab., CSIRO, 306 Carmody Rd., St. Lucia, Brisbane QLD 4067, Australia), Tellus, 45B(1), 86-88, Feb. 1993.

An estimate based on local feed data is 43% higher than previous ones, indicating the need to reassess methane production from ruminants in other countries.

Item #d94jan26

Two items from Global Biogeochem. Cycles, 6(3), Sep. 1992:

"Methane Emissions from California Rice Paddies with Varied Treatments," R.J. Cicerone (Dept. Geosci., Univ. California, Irvine CA 92717), C.C. Delwiche et al., 233-248.

"Methane Emission from Rice Fields: The Effect of Flood Water Management," R.L. Sass (Dept. Ecol., Rice Univ., Houston TX 77251), F.M. Fisher et al., 249-262.