Annual Estimates of Global Anthropogenic Methane Emissions: 1860-1994

New York State is underlain by numerous bedrock formations of Cambrian to Devonian age that produce natural gas and to a lesser extent oil. This USGS Open-File report examines the dissolved methane in New York groundwater.

The Emissions & Generation Resource Integrated Database (eGRID) is a comprehensive source of data on characteristics of almost all electric power generated in the United States. This data includes capacity; heat input; net generation; associated air emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and mercury; emissions rates; resource mix (i.e., generation by fuel type); nonbaseload calculations; line losses (a.k.a., grid gross loss); and many other attributes. The data is provided at the unit and generator levels, as well as, aggregated to the plant, state, balancing authority, eGRID subregion, NERC region, and US levels. As of January 2023, the available editions of eGRID contain data for years 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2007, 2005, 2004, and 1996 through 2000.

A comprehensive source of data on the environmental characteristics of almost all electric power generated in the United States. These environmental characteristics include: air emissions for nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide; emissions rates; net generation; resource mix eGRID data can be used for the following activities: greenhouse gas registries and inventories, carbon footprints, consumer information disclosure, emission inventories and standards, power market changes, and avoided emission estimates. Internet Archive URL: https://web.archive.org/web/*/https://epa.gov/energy/emissions-generation-resource-integrated-database-egrid

Alternative Fuels Data Center - Overview of tail pipe emissions from hybrid vehicles nationally, by state __Emissions from Hybrid and Plug-In Electric Vehicles__ Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and all-electric vehicles (EVs) typically produce lower tailpipe emissions than conventional vehicles do. When measuring well-to-wheel emissions, the electricity source is important: for PHEVs and EVs, part or all of the power provided by the battery comes from off-board sources of electricity. There are emissions associated with the majority of electricity production in the United States. __Electricity Sources and Emissions__ EVs and PHEVs running only on electricity have zero tailpipe emissions, but emissions may be produced by the source of electrical power, such as a power plant. In geographic areas that use relatively low-polluting energy sources for electricity generation, PHEVs and EVs typically have a well-to-wheel emissions advantage over similar conventional vehicles running on gasoline or diesel. In regions that depend heavily on conventional fossil fuels for electricity generation, PEVs may not demonstrate a well-to-wheel emissions benefit. __Direct and Well-to-Wheel Emissions__ Vehicle emissions can be divided into two general categories: air pollutants, which contribute to smog, haze, and health problems; and greenhouse gases (GHGs), such as carbon dioxide and methane. Both categories of emissions can be evaluated on a direct basis and a well-to-wheel basis. Direct emissions are emitted through the tailpipe, as well as through evaporation from the vehicle's fuel system and during the fueling process. EVs produce zero direct emissions. PHEVs produce zero tailpipe emissions when they are in all-electric mode, but they can produce evaporative emissions. And when using the internal combustion engine, PHEVs also produce tailpipe emissions. However, their direct emissions are typically lower than those of comparable conventional vehicles. Well-to-wheel emissions include all emissions related to fuel production, processing, distribution, and use. In the case of gasoline, emissions are produced while extracting petroleum from the earth, refining it, distributing the fuel to stations, and burning it in vehicles. In the case of electricity, most electric power plants produce emissions, and there are additional emissions associated with the extraction, processing, and distribution of the primary energy sources they use for electricity production. Internet Archive URL: https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/electric_emissions.php

Farming Systems Study for Greenhouse gas Reduction through Agricultural Carbon Enhancement network in Morris, Minnesota Tillage is decreasing globally due to recognized benefits of fuel savings and improved soil health in the absence of disturbance. However, a perceived inability to control weeds effectively and economically hinders no-till adoption in organic production systems in the Upper Midwest, USA. A strip-tillage (ST) strategy was explored as an intermediate approach to reducing fuel use and soil disturbance, and still controlling weeds. An 8-year comparison was made between two tillage approaches, one primarily using ST the other using a combination of conventional plow, disk and chisel tillage [conventional tillage (CT)]. Additionally, two rotation schemes were explored within each tillage system: a 2-year rotation (2y) of corn (Zea mays L.), and soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) with a winter rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop; and a 4-year rotation (4y) of corn, soybean, spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) underseeded with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), and a second year of alfalfa. These treatments resulted in comparison of four main management systems CT-2y, CT-4y, ST-2y and ST-4y, which also were managed under fertilized and non-fertilized conditions. Yields, whole system productivity (evaluated with potential gross returns), and weed seed densities (first 4 years) were measured. Across years, yields of corn, soybean and wheat were greater by 34% or more under CT than ST but alfalfa yields were the same. Within tillage strategies, corn yields were the same in 2y and 4y rotations, but soybean yields, only under ST, were 29% lower in the fertilized 4y than 2 yr rotation. In the ST-4y system yields of corn and soybean were the same in fertilized and non-fertilized treatments. Over the entire rotation, system productivity was highest in the fertilized CT-2y system, but the same among fertilized ST-4y, and non-fertilized ST-2y, ST-4y, and CT-4y systems. Over the first 4 years, total weed seed density increased comparatively more under ST than CT, and was negatively correlated to corn yields in fertilized CT systems and soybean yields in the fertilized ST-2y system. These results indicated ST compromised productivity, in part due to insufficient weed control, but also due to reduced nutrient availability. ST and diverse rotations may yet be viable options given that overall productivity of fertilized ST-2y and CT-4y systems was within 70% of that in the fertilized CT-2y system. Closing the yield gap between ST and CT would benefit from future research focused on organic weed and nutrient management, particularly for corn.

Global Warming Potential Study for Greenhouse gas Reduction through Agricultural Carbon Enhancement network in Mandan, North Dakota No long-term evaluation of net global warming potential (GWP) for grassland ecosystems in the northern Great Plains (NGP) of North America has been reported. Given this need, we sought to determine net GWP for three grazing management systems located within the NGP. Grazing management systems included two native vegetation pastures (moderately grazed pasture [MGP], heavily grazed pasture [HGP]) and a heavily grazed crested wheatgrass [Agropyron desertorum (Fisch. ex. Link) Schult.] pasture (CWP) near Mandan, ND. Factors evaluated for their contribution to GWP included (i) CO2 emissions associated with N fertilizer production and application, (ii) literature-derived estimates of CH4 production for enteric fermentation, (iii) change in soil organic carbon (SOC) over 44 yr using archived soil samples, and (iv) soil–atmosphere N2O and CH4 fl uxes over 3 yr using static chamber methodology. Analysis of SOC indicated all pastures to be significant sinks for SOC, with sequestration rates ranging from 0.39 to 0.46 Mg C ha−1 yr−1. All pastures were minor sinks for CH4 (<2.0 kg CH4–C ha−1 yr−1). Greater N inputs within CWP contributed to annual N2O emission nearly threefold greater than HGP and MGP. Due to diff erences in stocking rate, CH4 production from enteric fermentation was nearly threefold less in MGP than CWP and HGP. When factors contributing to net GWP were summed, HGP and MGP were found to serve as net CO2equiv. sinks, while CWP was a net CO2equiv. source. Values for GWP and GHG intensity, however, indicated net reductions in GHG emissions can be most eff ectively achieved through moderate stocking rates on native vegetation in the NGP.

This dataset is for an analysis that used the MARKAL linear optimization model to compare the carbon emissions profiles and system-wide global warming potential of the U.S. energy system over a series of model runs in which the power sector is required to meet a specific carbon dioxide reduction target across a number of scenarios in which the availability of natural gas changes. Scenarios are run with carbon dioxide emissions and a range of upstream methane emission leakage rates from natural gas production along with upstream methane and carbon dioxide emissions associated with production of coal and oil. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Lenox , C., and O. Kaplan. Role of natural gas in meeting an electric sector emissions reduction strategy and effects on greenhouse gas emissions. Energy Economics. Elsevier B.V., Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS, 60: 460-468, (2016).

Methane, the primary constituent of natural gas, is often generated during coal-forming processes. Thus, methane is regularly found associated with coals, either as adsorbed gas in the seams or as gas pools in overlying formations. Most of the information on coalbed methane presently available is from mining areas in the eastern U.S., where the coal resource is well defined and mining companies are experienced in dealing with the methane hazard. At present, methane is simply vented from mines; it is estimated that 250 MMe£ of "coal gas" gets vented daily in this country. Very little work ~as been done so far towards utilizing the coalbed methane resource, despite the fact that present day technologies could easily be applied to its production. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Methane Recovery from Coalbeds Project (MRCP) was initiated to encourage the use of this resource, specifically through (1) the delineation and evaluation of the coalbed methane resource to the extent that productive and economically attractive target areas might be reliably chosen and (2) the development of improved, more cost-effective methods, systems, and equipment for economically producing and using methane from both mined and unmined coalbeds.

The ‘Management Strategies for Soil Quality’ study was established in 1993 by Dr. Don Tanaka (USDA-ARS-NGPRL) to evaluate long-term impacts of minimum and no-till cropping systems on crop yield, precipitation use, and soil properties. The study was designed with six crop sequences (whole plot) each split by tillage type (split plot). All phases of each crop sequence are present every year, and treatments are replicated three times. See record in the GeoData catalog at https://geodata.nal.usda.gov/geonetwork/srv/eng/catalog.search#/metadata... for more information and links to the data resources.

PDF of fluid chemistry data from gas sample of Charlton 4-30 with information on hydrocarbon content.

NVND Study for Greenhouse gas Reduction through Agricultural Carbon Enhancement network in Sidney, Montana Management practices, such as irrigation, tillage, cropping system, and N fertilization, may influence soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We quantified the effects of irrigation, tillage, crop rotation, and N fertilization on soil CO2, N2O, and CH4 emissions from March to November, 2008 to 2011 in a Lihen sandy loam in western North Dakota. Treatments were two irrigation practices (irrigated and non-irrigated) and five cropping systems (conventional-tilled malt barley [Hordeum vulgaris L.] with N fertilizer [CTBFN], conventional-tilled malt barley with no N fertilizer [CTBON], no-tilled malt barley-pea [Pisum sativum L.] with N fertilizer [NTB-PN], no-tilled malt barley with N fertilizer [NTBFN], and no-tilled malt barley with no N fertilizer [NTBON]). The GHG fluxes varied with date of sampling while peaking immediately after precipitation, irrigation, and/or N fertilization events during increased soil temperature. Both CO2 and N2O fluxes were greater in CTBFN under the irrigated condition but CH4 uptake was greater in NTB-PN under the non-irrigated condition than in other treatments. While tillage and N fertilization increased CO2 and N2O fluxes by 8 to 30%, N fertilization and monocropping reduced CH4 uptake by 39 to 40%. The NTB-PN, regardless of irrigation, might mitigate GHG emissions by reducing CO2 and N2O emissions and increasing CH4 uptake relative to other treatments. To account for global warming potential for such a practice, information on productions associated with CO2 emissions along with N2O and CH4 fluxes are needed.

Nitrogen Rate Study for Greenhouse gas Reduction through Agricultural Carbon Enhancement network in Fort Collins, Colorado Nitrogen fertilization is essential for optimizing crop yields; however, it increases N2O emissions. These emissions were monitored from several irrigated cropping systems receiving N fertilizer rates ranging from 0-246 kg/ha from years 2002-2006. Cropping systems included conventional-till continuous corn and no-till continuous corn at varying N rates. Nitrous oxide fluxes were measured during four growing seasons using static, vented chambers and a gas chromatograph analyzer. This work shows that the use of no-till can potentially reduce N2O emissions from irrigated systems and increase soil carbon storage.

Nitrogen Source Study for Greenhouse gas Reduction through Agricultural Carbon Enhancement network in Fort Collins, Colorado Nitrogen fertilization is essential for optimizing crop yields; however, it increases N2O emissions. The study objective was to compare N2O emissions resulting from application of commercially available enhanced-effi ciency N fertilizers with emissions from conventional dry granular urea in irrigated cropping systems. These emissions were monitored from several irrigated cropping systems receiving N fertilizer rates ranging from 0-246 kg/ha from years 2007-2008 with intermediate rates of 157 kg/ha applied to the barley crop in corn-barley rotation and 56 kg/ha applied to the dry bens in the corn-dry bean rotation. Cropping systems included conventional-till continuous corn (CT-CC), no-till continuous corn (NT-CC), no-till corn–dry bean (NT-CDb), and no-till corn–barley (NT-CB). Nitrous oxide fluxes were measured during ten growing seasons using static, vented chambers and a gas chromatograph analyzer. This work shows that the use of no-till and enhanced-effi ciency N fertilizers can potentially reduce N2O emissions from irrigated systems.

Nitrogen Source Study for Greenhouse gas Reduction through Agricultural Carbon Enhancement network in Mandan, North Dakota Use of dietary amendments to reduce nitrogen (N) in excreta represents a possible strategy to decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from livestock. In this regard, ingestion of small amounts of condensed quebracho tannin has been found to reduce N concentration in livestock urine. In this study, we sought to quantify the effects of tannin-affected cattle urine, normal cattle urine, and NH4NO3 in solution on greenhouse gas flux. Carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) flux was measured using static chamber methodology from the three N treatments and a no application control over a six-week period in a mixed grass prairie in west-central North Dakota, USA. Over the course of the study, average CO2 emission was greatest from normal urine (335 ± 8 mg C m-2 hr-1) and least from the control (229 ± 19 mg C m-2 hr-1), with intermediate fluxes for the tannin urine and NH4NO3 treatments (290 ± 27 and 286 ± 54 mg C m-2 hr-1, respectively). Methane uptake was prevalent throughout the study, as soil conditions were predominantly warm and dry. Uptake of CH4 was greatest within the control (-30 ± 2 µg C m-2 hr-1) and least in the tannin urine treatment (-12 ± 4 µg C m-2 hr-1). Uptake of CH4 was over 40% less within the tannin urine treatment as compared to normal urine, and may have been repressed by the capacity of tannin to bind monooxygenases responsible for CH4 oxidation. Average N2O emission from NH4NO3 solution was more than twice that of all other treatments. Though the tannin urine treatment possessed 34% less N than normal cattle urine, cumulative N2O emission between the treatments did not differ. Results from this study suggest the use of condensed quebracho tannin as a dietary amendment for livestock does not yield GHG mitigation benefits in the short-term.

Various map tools from Oil Conservation Division (OCD) of EMNRD.

Organic Amendment Study for Greenhouse gas Reduction through Agricultural Carbon Enhancement network and Nutrient Use and Outcome Network in Fort Collins, Colorado Dairy manure is commonly used in place of inorganic N fertilizers but the impacts on trace gas flux, yields and soil N are not well understood in the semiarid western US. CO2, N2O, and CH4 were monitored using surface chamnbers from 5 N treatments to determine their effect on greenhouse gas emissions from a tilled clay loam soil under irrigated, continuous corn production for a 3 yr. time period. Treatments included (i) partially composed dairy manure (DM) (412 kg N ha -1), (ii) DM + AgrotainPlus (DM + AP), (iii) enhanced efficiency N fertilizer (SuperU, or SUPRU) (179 kg N ha-1), (iv) Urea (179 kg N ha-1), and (v) check. These results highlight the importance of best-managemnet practices such as immediate irrigation after N application and use of urease and nitrification inhibitors to minimize N losses.

REAP Study for Resilient Economic Agricultural Practices in West Lafayette, Indiana Corn stover is an important livestock feed and will probably be a major source of renewable bioenergy, especially in the U.S. Corn Belt. Overly aggressive removal of stover, however, could lead to greater soil erosion and hurt producer yields in the long-run. Good residue management practices could help prevent erosion of valuable topsoil by wind and water while still providing a revenue source for producers, either as livestock feed or for use in renewable bioenergy. Plant residues also contribute to soil structure, nutrient cycling, and help sustain the soil microbiota. Good residue management could also help control the loss of greenhouse gases from agricultural soils that could add to already increasing levels of atmospheric greenhouse gases contributing to global climate change. Cumulative GHG emissions varied widely across locations, by management, and from year-to-year. Despite this high variability, maximum stover removal averaged across all sites, years, and management resulted in lower total emissions of CO2 (-12 ± 11%) and N2O (-13 ± 28%) compared to no stover removal. Decreases in total CO2 and N2O emissions in stover removal treatments were attributed to decreased availability of stover-derived C and N inputs into soils, as well as possible microclimatic differences. Soils at all sites were CH4 neutral or small CH4 sinks. Exceptions to these trends occurred for all GHGs, highlighting the importance of site-specific management and environmental conditions on GHG fluxes in agricultural soils.

Soil-Gas monitoring data collected at the P-site and DAS study locations during SECARB project at Cranfield oil site in Mississippi. Data was used to study influence of gravel pad, pit, plants, and plugged and abandoned (P&A) oil well on near-surface soil-gas compositions. Associated Publications: Anderson, J. S., Romanak, K. D., Yang, C., Lu, J., Hovorka, S. D., and Young, M. H., 2017, Gas source attribution techniques for assessing leakage at geologic CO2 storage sites: Evaluating a CO2 and CH4 soil gas anomaly at the Cranfield CO2-EOR site: Chemical Geology, v. 454, p. 93-104, doi:10.1016/j.chemgeo.2017.02.024 Hingst, M. C., 2013. Geochemical effects of elevated methane and carbon dioxide in near-surface sediments above an EOR/CCUS site, The University of Texas at Austin, Master’s thesis. http://hdl.handle.net/2152/21836 Lu, J., Kharaka, Y. K., Thordsen, J. J., Horita, J., Karamalidis, A., Griffith, C., Hakala, J. A., Ambats, G., Cole, D. R., Phelps, T. J., Manning, M. A., Cook, P. J., and Hovorka, S. D., 2012, CO2‒rock‒brine interactions in Lower Tuscaloosa Formation at Cranfield CO2 sequestration site, Mississippi, U.S.A.: Chemical Geology, v. 291, p. 269‒277. Yang, C., Jamison, K., Xue, L., Dai, Z., Hovorka, S. D., Fredin, L., and Treviño, R. H., 2017, Quantitative assessment of soil CO2 concentration and stable carbon isotope for leakage detection at geological carbon sequestration sites: Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, v. 7, no. 4, p. 680-691, doi:10.1002/ghg.1679. Yang, C., Romanak, K. D., Reedy, R. C., Hovorka, S. D., and Treviño, R. H., 2017, Soil gas dynamics monitoring at a CO2-EOR site for leakage detection: Geomechanics and Geophysics for Geo-Energy and Geo-Resources, v. 3, p. 351-364, doi:10.1007/s40948-017-0053-7

This data set contains variables measured during a survey of sediment-methane production rates in a eutrophic reservoir in southwestern Ohio. The measured production rates and a suite of predictor variables including water chemistry, sediment characteristics, and algal abundance are presented.. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Berberich, M., J. Beaulieu, T. Hamilton, S. Waldo, and I. Buffam. Spatial variability of sediment methane production and methanogen communities within a eutrophic reservoir: importance of organic matter source and quantity. LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY. American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, Lawrence, KS, USA, 65(3): 1-23, (2020).

TPAC Study for Greenhouse gas Reduction through Agricultural Carbon Enhancement network in West Lafayette, Indiana Recent efforts have attempted to establish emission estimates for greenhouse gases (GHG) from agricultural soils in the United States. This research project was conducted to assess the influence of cropping system management on non-carbon dioxide (non-CO2) GHG emissions from an eastern cornbelt alfisol. Corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) rotation plots were established, as were plots in continuous management of native grasses or Sorghum/Sudan grass. GHG fluxes were monitored throughout each growing season from 2004 through 2007. Fluxes of N2O were significantly correlated with soil temperature (P < 0.001), and thus a Q10 correction was made (3.48 for N2O). Nitrous oxide emissions from corn were lowest from the precision tillage treatment (2.4 kg N ha-1 yr-1), significantly lower than the conventional tillage (4.9 kg N ha-1 yr-1) or cover crop corn treatments (5.0 kg N ha-1 yr-1). Corn-soybean and biomass-based cropping systems resulted in significantly greater N2O emissions than native grasses. There was a positive correlation between N fertilization rate and N2O emissions when comparing all treatments in this study. These soils were typically a sink for atmospheric CH4 for these cropping systems, and thus N2O is the primary non-CO2 GHG of concern. When evaluating the entire cropping system, native grasses resulted in the lowest N2O emissions, while corn-soybean rotation planted with precision tillage resulted in similar N2O emissions as bare soil and were significantly lower than emissions from the other cropping systems assessed.

landfill emissions measurements for the Turkey run landfill in Georgia. This dataset is associated with the following publication: De la Cruz, F., R. Green, G. Hater, J. Chanton, E. Thoma , T. Harvey, and M. Barlaz. Comparison of Field Measurements at a New Landfill to Methane Emissions Models. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, USA, 50(17): 9483-9441, (2016).

FMI image log and mud log of well 52B-7