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arXiv · 2106.10457

Methane Emissions from Super-emitting Coal Mines in Australia quantified using TROPOMI Satellite Observations

Pankaj Sadavarte·Sudhanshu Pandey·Joannes D. Maasakkers·Alba Lorente·Tobias Borsdorff·Hugo Denier van der Gon·Sander Houweling·Ilse Aben
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Abstract

Two years of satellite observations were used to quantify methane emission from coal mines in Queensland, the largest coal-producing state in Australia. The six analyzed surface and underground coal mines are estimated to emit 570+/-98 Gg a-1 in 2018-2019. Together, they account for 7% of the national coal production, while emitting 55+/-10% of the reported methane emission from coal mining in Australia. Our results indicate that for two of the three locations our satellite-based estimates are significantly higher than reported to the Australian government. Most remarkably, 40% of the quantified emission came from a single surface mine (Hail Creek) located in a methane-rich coal basin. Our findings call for increased monitoring and investment in methane recovery technologies for both surface and underground mines.

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Pankaj Sadavarte, Sudhanshu Pandey, Joannes D. Maasakkers, Alba Lorente, Tobias Borsdorff, Hugo Denier van der Gon, Sander Houweling, Ilse Aben. 2021-06-19. Methane Emissions from Super-emitting Coal Mines in Australia quantified using TROPOMI Satellite Observations. https://arxiv.org/abs/2106.10457

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