ESTIMATING METHANE EMISSIONS FROM DIFFERENT LAND-USE TYPES IN THE URBAN AREA

Abstract

In the recent decades, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions increased considerably; due to the remarkable
growth in anthropogenic activities. These gasses have potential warming effects on the atmosphere as long as they
accumulate in the atmosphere.
Methane (CH4) as a GHG has very high radiative forces, with a short lifetime of approximately 10 years.
Therefore, targeting CH4 emissions would bring immediate climate benefits in the short-term. Land-use changing policies
in the urban area decrease CH4 sinks and affect the urban contribution in CH4 budget. However, the uncertainty of CH4
emissions in the urban area is very high, so that estimating CH4 concentration is important to take appropriate mitigation
measures.
In our study, we estimated street-level CH4 concentrations in the following four urban areas: the city center (CC),
the central park (CP), a residential area (RA), and a commercial area (CA). An Enhanced Portable Fluxmeter device
with a precise measurement of 0.1 parts per million (ppm) was used to perform these CH4 estimations between 10:00
and 12:00 am (EEST), from 20-30 March.
The results showed that the CC and CA have an elevated contribution in CH4 concentration with more than 2.3
ppm. The RA recorded the least as hypothesize. Surprisingly, the CP which was supposed to have the least contribution
in CH4 concentration from the anthropogenic perspective, was estimated to have ascending records. These findings
demonstrate the remarkable contribution of the urban area in influencing CH4 concentration, and recommend further
CH4 investigation in the urban area and to identify its potential sources.