- 1International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO), UNEP, Paris, France
- 2Florida State University , FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, United States of America (abichou@eng.famu.fsu.edu)
- 3Research Institute of Water and Environmental Engineering (IIAMA), Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), 46022 Valencia, Spain
- 4Department of Earth Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, UK
- 5Environmental Defense Fund, 41 Eastcheap, London, UK
Tracer Correlation Method (TCM) testing was conducted at a U.S. landfill to quantify fugitive methane emissions, with flux values ranging from 1,353 to 4,996 kg/hr. SEM2Flux, another ground-based method, reported lower fluxes ranging from 430 to 1,177 kg/hr with standard deviations of 24 to 164 kg/hr in the same landfill. The lower flux estimates from SEM2Flux may be due to the limited number of data points, inadequate coverage of the waste footprint, or emissions originating from gas collection infrastructure above ground rather than directly from the landfill surface.
Satellite platforms, including EnMAP, EMIT, and PRISMA, provided broader flux ranges, with values spanning from 2,430 to 9,840 kg/hr. EMIT reported the highest fluxes but also the largest uncertainties, averaging 4,931 kg/hr. EnMAP and PRISMA reported more moderate fluxes with uncertainties of 892 kg/hr and 1,824 kg/hr, respectively. The higher estimates from satellite detections may be related to their detection limit, as it is only possible to detect methane plumes when emissions are large enough, although there may be other factors that have yet to be explored. Satellite data offers broader spatial coverage, high data frequency if the data is requested, and independent measurements based on open data. However, the variability and higher uncertainties underscore the need for validation against reliable ground-based measurements like TCM.
Reported emissions for the site, calculated using the USEPA-recommended methods, equate to hourly fluxes of approximately 754 kg/hr and 740 kg/hr. These values significantly underestimate emissions when compared to TCM, SEM2Flux, and satellite data. The discrepancies between the different technologies/techniques emphasize the need for more comprehensive validation experiments integrating ground-based and satellite measurements to improve emissions inventories and enhance monitoring systems across varying site conditions and methodologies.
This research has been partially funded in the framework of UNEP’s International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO).
How to cite: Abichou, T., Irakulis-Loitxate, I., Menoud, M., France, J., and Calcan, A.: Contrasting Methane Emissions from Solid Waste Landfills: Side by Side Assessment of Ground, Drone, and Satellite Based Technologies, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-18683, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-18683, 2025.
