Methane emissions in Kuwait: Plume identification, isotopic characterisation and inventory verification

Al-Shalan, A.; Lowry, D.; Fisher, R.E.; Nisbet, E.G.; Zazzeri, G.; Al-Sarawi, M.; France, J.L. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8785-1240. 2022 Methane emissions in Kuwait: Plume identification, isotopic characterisation and inventory verification. Atmospheric Environment, 268, 118763. 13, pp. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2021.118763

Before downloading, please read NORA policies.

Preview

Text (Open Access)
© 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license.
1-s2.0-S1352231021005859-main.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives 4.0.
Download (10MB) | Preview

Official URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/...

Abstract/Summary

The distribution of methane sources in Kuwait was mapped through mobile vehicle surveying of methane mole fraction, and by collection of air samples at source for subsequent isotopic analysis. Mobile plume identification and isotopic analysis, reveals that by far the largest observed source of methane in Kuwait is from landfill sites (δ13CCH4 of −58‰), with smaller contributions from fossil fuel industry (−50‰), wastewater treatment (−49‰) and ruminant animals (sheep −64‰, cows, −62‰, camels −60‰). Regular weekly air samples were collected over two years from three sites in Kuwait, one NW of the city, one to the SE and one in the city from the rooftop of the Kuwait College of Science. Associated with higher mole fraction is a consistent depletion in 13C of methane, pointing to a national source mix with δ13CCH4 of −55.9‰. This is significantly different from calculations using EDGAR v.5 inventory that suggest a source mix of −52.8‰. Diurnal campaigns from a city location confirm that the sources are dominantly biogenic (−59 to −56‰) in and around the urban areas. The EDGAR 5.0 inventory suggests that the dominant sources of methane in Kuwait are leaks from gas flaring and fossil fuel distribution, with additional smaller emissions from landfills, sewage (wastewater) treatment and ruminant animals, but with a waste component increasing relative to fossil fuel emissions in recent decades. Measurements during 2015 and 2016 suggest that for all but the far south and SW of the country which is not in the meteorological footprint of fixed site or mobile measurement, there is a dominant waste source and much smaller observed proportion from fossil fuel activities. This research demonstrates for the first time in Kuwait that continuous mobile measurements for plume identification coupled with high-precision isotopic analysis using CF-GC-IRMS (Continuous Flow Gas Chromatography-Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry) is an effective way of identifying methane sources and understanding their relative contributions. To unambiguously quantify relative contributions will require further work, particularly in the SW region of the country, utilizing aircraft and/or satellite retrievals. The results of this research will contribute to understanding the methane budget of this poorly studied region.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2021.118763
ISSN:	1352-2310
Additional Keywords:	Carbon isotopes; Emissions inventory; Landfill sites; Plume mapping
Date made live:	26 Oct 2021 08:51 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/531304

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2021.118763

ISSN:

1352-2310

Additional Keywords:

Carbon isotopes; Emissions inventory; Landfill sites; Plume mapping

Date made live:

26 Oct 2021 08:51 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/531304