Researchers use mobile lab to map methane emissions in New York State
While carbon dioxide emissions have received most of the attention in the fight against global warming, there are other lesser-known greenhouse gases, including methane.
As the main component of natural gas, methane is the second-largest contributor to climate change after carbon dioxide because of its large volume and impact in the atmosphere. Methane now accounts for about 35 percent of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Protection.
Researchers have begun a project aimed at locating New York’s largest source of methane emissions, using mobile lab equipment to collect data across the state. Supported by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the project includes researchers from the University of Albany, Columbia University, Ithaca College and the University of Rochester.
“Methane concentrations are increasing globally, including near homes, for a variety of reasons, including oil and gas infrastructure leaks, agricultural practices, and inadequate mitigation from landfills and wastewater treatment plants,” said Jim Schwab of the University of Albany. Atmospheric Science Research Centerwho is leading the project.
“New York City is sending out a very large methane signal with a mix of many different sources,” added Roy Singh ConmanAtmospheric Scientist at Columbia University Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and co-principal investigators. “Our work is focused on identifying and quantifying the contribution of these various sources to overall methane concentrations so that we can help state regulators and policymakers.”
The group’s mobile lab is located in the cargo compartment of a 2007 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van. It contains instruments that can measure methane concentrations as well as other pollutants.
The team has completed two three-week deployments in May and November and is preparing for a third deployment this spring. Deployments so far include the New York City metro area as well as central and western New York. Targets include landfills, urban areas, wastewater treatment facilities, farms and other potentially controllable emission sources identified from previous research and advanced satellite data.
Deployments typically last four to eight hours before the batteries powering the instruments need to be charged at the base station. Additional aerial measurements are being collected for this project using research aircraft.
The team has been measuring and simulating methane at fixed air quality monitoring sites for the past few years. They hope that mobile measurements will add new spatially diverse measurements to their analysis.
“One area of particular interest to us is assessing the impact of management practices to help dairy farmers move toward sustainability,” said Eric Leibensperger, assistant professor and co-principal investigator at Ithaca College.
February, the New regulations finalized by the state Reduce methane and other emissions from oil and gas infrastructure across the state. New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act of 2019 calls for a 40% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030 and an 85% reduction by 2050.
The researchers plan to share their findings with the nation to better understand, control and regulate future methane emissions.
Adapted from a press release from the University of Albany.
