Nov 26, 2013
"The total U.S. impact on the world's energy budget is different than we thought, and it's worse," Anna Michalak, study co-author and Earth scientist at the Carnegie Institution for Science, told the Associated Press.
According to their research, methane emissions from fossil fuel extraction and refining processes in the South Central United States alone are nearly five times higher than previous estimates. "It will be important to resolve that discrepancy in order to fully understand the impact of these industries on methane emissions," stated lead author Scot M. Miller, a doctoral student in Earth and Planetary Sciences through the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
The researchers, who published the study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), say previous estimates by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the international Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) have fallen short because of faulted methodology.
As opposed to calculating estimates from known methane emitting sources, as the EPA and EDGAR have done, the new research analyzes "top down" measurements of methane in the atmosphere, using meteorological data, which was then traced back original sources.
The result paints a far bigger, and more dire, picture of methane in the atmosphere, the researchers say.
The calculations showed that levels of methane coming from the U.S. are up to 1.5 times and 1.7 times higher overall than the amounts previously calculated by the EPA and EDGAR respectively. In addition to the fossil fuel industry, emissions from sources such as cattle farming, landfills, and manure management were also far greater. Methane emissions from livestock operations are up to twice as high as previously thought.
"Successful regulation of greenhouse gas emissions requires knowledge of current methane emission sources," say the report's authors, adding that their findings "cast doubt on the EPA's recent decision to downscale its estimate of national natural gas emissions by 25 to 30 percent."
_______________________
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Jacob Chamberlain
Jacob Chamberlain is a former staff writer for Common Dreams. His website is www.jacobpchamberlain.com.
"The total U.S. impact on the world's energy budget is different than we thought, and it's worse," Anna Michalak, study co-author and Earth scientist at the Carnegie Institution for Science, told the Associated Press.
According to their research, methane emissions from fossil fuel extraction and refining processes in the South Central United States alone are nearly five times higher than previous estimates. "It will be important to resolve that discrepancy in order to fully understand the impact of these industries on methane emissions," stated lead author Scot M. Miller, a doctoral student in Earth and Planetary Sciences through the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
The researchers, who published the study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), say previous estimates by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the international Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) have fallen short because of faulted methodology.
As opposed to calculating estimates from known methane emitting sources, as the EPA and EDGAR have done, the new research analyzes "top down" measurements of methane in the atmosphere, using meteorological data, which was then traced back original sources.
The result paints a far bigger, and more dire, picture of methane in the atmosphere, the researchers say.
The calculations showed that levels of methane coming from the U.S. are up to 1.5 times and 1.7 times higher overall than the amounts previously calculated by the EPA and EDGAR respectively. In addition to the fossil fuel industry, emissions from sources such as cattle farming, landfills, and manure management were also far greater. Methane emissions from livestock operations are up to twice as high as previously thought.
"Successful regulation of greenhouse gas emissions requires knowledge of current methane emission sources," say the report's authors, adding that their findings "cast doubt on the EPA's recent decision to downscale its estimate of national natural gas emissions by 25 to 30 percent."
_______________________
Jacob Chamberlain
Jacob Chamberlain is a former staff writer for Common Dreams. His website is www.jacobpchamberlain.com.
"The total U.S. impact on the world's energy budget is different than we thought, and it's worse," Anna Michalak, study co-author and Earth scientist at the Carnegie Institution for Science, told the Associated Press.
According to their research, methane emissions from fossil fuel extraction and refining processes in the South Central United States alone are nearly five times higher than previous estimates. "It will be important to resolve that discrepancy in order to fully understand the impact of these industries on methane emissions," stated lead author Scot M. Miller, a doctoral student in Earth and Planetary Sciences through the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
The researchers, who published the study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), say previous estimates by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the international Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) have fallen short because of faulted methodology.
As opposed to calculating estimates from known methane emitting sources, as the EPA and EDGAR have done, the new research analyzes "top down" measurements of methane in the atmosphere, using meteorological data, which was then traced back original sources.
The result paints a far bigger, and more dire, picture of methane in the atmosphere, the researchers say.
The calculations showed that levels of methane coming from the U.S. are up to 1.5 times and 1.7 times higher overall than the amounts previously calculated by the EPA and EDGAR respectively. In addition to the fossil fuel industry, emissions from sources such as cattle farming, landfills, and manure management were also far greater. Methane emissions from livestock operations are up to twice as high as previously thought.
"Successful regulation of greenhouse gas emissions requires knowledge of current methane emission sources," say the report's authors, adding that their findings "cast doubt on the EPA's recent decision to downscale its estimate of national natural gas emissions by 25 to 30 percent."
_______________________
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.