Quantification of Methane Emissions by Surface Mass Balance Method

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dc.contributor.advisorMcLaren, Robert
dc.contributor.authorKim, Yeuhyun
dc.date.accessioned2023-08-04T15:10:17Z
dc.date.available2023-08-04T15:10:17Z
dc.date.issued2023-08-04
dc.date.updated2023-08-04T15:10:16Z
dc.degree.disciplineChemistry
dc.degree.levelMaster's
dc.degree.nameMSc - Master of Science
dc.description.abstractThis thesis presents a surface mass balance method as a cost-effective top-down technique to conveniently validate the bottom-up inventories. Mobile methane measurements were performed for two large landfills, Keele Valley Landfill and Greenlane Landfill and the city of Sarnia which included petrochemical industries and residential areas by employing a Cavity Ringdown Spectrometer (CRDS) mounted in a vehicle to capture downwind enhancements of methane. Methane emission from the Greenlane landfill was estimated to be 3300 ± 730 kg h-1 by a mass balance approach. An estimation by a gaussian dispersion model provided a similar emission rate of 3320 ± 250 kg h-1. The regression analysis of the mixing ratios of CO2 and CH4 showed positive correlation with an average molar ratio of 0.99 ± 0.04 mole mole-1 which was used to estimate CO2 emission to be 7600 ± 1700 kg h-1. The city of Sarnia including its industrial complex and residential areas showed a total methane emission rate of 2450 ± 560 kg h-1. It is estimated the city emits 21.5 ± 4.9 kt CH4 annually accounting for 45% of Ontario’s oil and gas methane emission. These estimated source rates from facilities were consistently 9-10 times greater than the GHGRP estimates. The discrepancies confirmed in the study emphasizes that it is significant to reconcile top-down measurements with the bottom-up inventories to provide a more accurate understanding of methane sources and sinks in Canada.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10315/41325
dc.languageen
dc.rightsAuthor owns copyright, except where explicitly noted. Please contact the author directly with licensing requests.
dc.subjectAtmospheric chemistry
dc.subjectEnvironmental engineering
dc.subject.keywordsMethane emissions
dc.subject.keywordsAnthropogenic methane
dc.subject.keywordsMass balance method
dc.subject.keywordsMobile methane measurements
dc.subject.keywordsGreenhouses gas
dc.subject.keywordsGaussian dispersion model
dc.titleQuantification of Methane Emissions by Surface Mass Balance Method
dc.typeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation

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