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Bengaluru, India (AP) — Landfills release far more global warming methane from waste decomposition than previously thought. Research suggests that it is released into the atmosphere.
Scientists used satellite data from four major cities in the world: Delhi and Mumbai, India; Lahore, Pakistan; and Buenos Aires, Argentina, to estimate landfill emissions in 2018 and 2019. , 1.4 to 2.6 times higher than previous estimates.
Methane is released into the air when organic waste such as food, wood and paper decomposes. Landfills are the world's third largest source of methane emissions, after oil and gas systems and agriculture.
Methane accounts for only about 11% of greenhouse gas emissions and can last about 12 years in the air, but it traps 80 times more heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. Scientists estimate that at least 25% of today's warming is caused by human-induced methane.
"This is the first time that high-resolution satellite imagery has been used to observe a landfill and calculate methane emissions," said lead author of the study, Dutch Space Institute. atmospheric scientist Joannes Maasakkers said.
"We found that these landfills, which are relatively small compared to the size of the city, account for the majority of total emissions from a given region." he said.
Satellite data for detecting emissions is still a relatively new field, but is increasingly being used to observe gases around the world. This means that more and more independent organizations are tracking greenhouse gases and identifying large sources of emissions, but previously local government figures were the only source available.
"This new study shows how important it is to better manage landfills. Especially in countries like India, where landfills are often stricken by fire, they are exposed to a variety of toxic hazards. It emits pollutants." Dr Royal Holloway, University of London, was not involved in the study.
Earlier this year, a large landfill was set on fire as the country was sweltering in an extreme heat wave with temperatures above 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit). Smoke billowed over New Delhi for several days after the attack. India has reported at least two landfill fires this year.
Nesbit added that combining new satellite technology with ground-based measurements will help researchers identify "who is polluting the world."
A recent analysis by the International Energy Agency found that China, India and Russia are the world's largest sources of methane pollution.
At last year's UN Climate Conference, 104 countries signed a pledge to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030 compared to 2020 levels. Neither India nor China has signed.
The authors plan to further investigate landfills around the world in future studies.
"This is a rapidly developing field and we expect more interesting data to emerge soon," Marthackers said.
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