Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-948
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-948
30 Sep 2022
 | 30 Sep 2022

A high-resolution satellite-based map of global methane emissions reveals missing wetland, fossil fuel and monsoon sources

Xueying Yu, Dylan B. Millet, Daven K. Henze, Alexander J. Turner, Alba Lorente Delgado, A. Anthony Bloom, and Jianxiong Sheng

Abstract. We interpret space-borne observations from the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) in a multi-inversion framework to characterize the 2018–2019 global methane budget. Evaluation of the inverse solutions indicates that methane sources and sinks cannot be separately resolved by methane observations alone—even with the dense TROPOMI sampling coverage. Employing remote carbon monoxide (CO) and hydroxyl radical (OH) observations as additional constraints, we infer from TROPOMI a global methane source of 587 Tg/y and sink of 571 Tg/y for our analysis period. We apply a new downscaling method to map these emissions to 0.1°×0.1° resolution, using the results to uncover key gaps in the prior methane budget. The TROPOMI data point to an underestimate of tropical wetland emissions (+13 %; 20 Tg/y), with adjustments following regional hydrology. Some simple wetland parameterizations represent these patterns as accurately as more sophisticated process-based models. Fossil fuel emissions are strongly underestimated over the Middle East (+5 Tg/y), where they have been increasing rapidly over the past decade, and over Venezuela. The TROPOMI observations reveal many fossil fuel emission hotspots missing from the prior inventory, including over Mexico, Oman, Yemen, Turkmenistan, Iran, Iraq, Libya, and Algeria. Agricultural methane sources are underestimated in India, Brazil, the California Central Valley, and Asia. More than 45 % of the global upward anthropogenic source adjustment occurs over India and southeast Asia during the summer monsoon (+8.5 Tg in Jul–Oct), likely due to rainfall-enhanced emissions from rice, manure, and landfills/sewers, which increase during this season along with the natural wetland source.

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

17 Mar 2023
A high-resolution satellite-based map of global methane emissions reveals missing wetland, fossil fuel, and monsoon sources
Xueying Yu, Dylan B. Millet, Daven K. Henze, Alexander J. Turner, Alba Lorente Delgado, A. Anthony Bloom, and Jianxiong Sheng
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 3325–3346, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-3325-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-3325-2023, 2023
Short summary

Xueying Yu et al.

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-948', John Worden, 25 Oct 2022
  • CC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-948', Alba Mols, 14 Nov 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-948', Anonymous Referee #2, 15 Nov 2022

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-948', John Worden, 25 Oct 2022
  • CC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-948', Alba Mols, 14 Nov 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-948', Anonymous Referee #2, 15 Nov 2022

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Xueying Yu on behalf of the Authors (17 Jan 2023)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (17 Jan 2023) by Bryan N. Duncan
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (23 Jan 2023)
RR by John Worden (06 Feb 2023)
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (06 Feb 2023) by Bryan N. Duncan
AR by Xueying Yu on behalf of the Authors (15 Feb 2023)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (15 Feb 2023) by Bryan N. Duncan
AR by Xueying Yu on behalf of the Authors (19 Feb 2023)

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

17 Mar 2023
A high-resolution satellite-based map of global methane emissions reveals missing wetland, fossil fuel, and monsoon sources
Xueying Yu, Dylan B. Millet, Daven K. Henze, Alexander J. Turner, Alba Lorente Delgado, A. Anthony Bloom, and Jianxiong Sheng
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 3325–3346, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-3325-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-3325-2023, 2023
Short summary

Xueying Yu et al.

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Short summary
We combine satellite measurements with a novel downscaling method to map global methane emissions at 0.1°×0.1° resolution. These fine-scale emission estimates reveal unreported emission hotspots and shed light on the roles of agriculture, wetlands, and fossil fuels for regional methane budgets. The satellite-derived emissions point in particular to missing fossil fuel emissions in the Middle East and to a large emission underestimate in South Asia that appears to be tied to monsoon rainfall.