Three Case Studies in Greenhouse Gas Emissions: New Insights Provided by an Expanded Atmospheric Observing Network

March 4, 2025
3:00 P.M. — 4:00 P.M.
Homewood Campus, Ames Hall 234
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Three Case Studies in Greenhouse Gas Emissions: New Insights Provided by an Expanded Atmospheric Observing Network

Scot Miller, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Environmental Health and Engineering

Abstract: The global record of greenhouse gas measurements is growing rapidly with the launch of several new satellites and an expansion of ground-based monitoring. This new era of big data is set to transform scientific understanding of greenhouse gas emissions. In the beginning of the talk, we’ll focus on why it’s so important to independently verify greenhouse gas emissions followed by three case studies on emissions, all possible due to this expanding observation network. In the first case study, we’ll discuss an often-overlooked greenhouse gas called sulfuryl fluoride; emissions of this gas across the US follow a surprising and potentially unexpected pattern. Second, we’ll discuss emissions of ethane across the US. Ethane may be a helpful marker of leaks from oil and natural gas operations. Lastly, well focuses on methane emissions from wetlands, the largest natural source of methane emissions to the atmosphere.