A micrometeorological technique for detecting small differences in methane emissions from two groups of cattle

作者：Laubach Johannes^*; Grover Samantha P P; Pinares Patino Cesar S; Molano German

来源：Atmospheric Environment, 2014, 98: 599-606.

DOI：10.1016/j.atmosenv.2014.09.036

• Backward-Lagrangian stochastic model
• Cattle CH4 emissions
• Gas dispersion
• Atmospheric surface layer
• Emissions mitigation

Potential approaches for reducing enteric methane (CH4) emissions from cattle will require verification of their efficacy at the paddock scale. We designed a micrometeorological approach to compare emissions from two groups of grazing cattle. The approach consists of measuring line-averaged CH4 mole fractions upwind and downwind of each group and using a backward-Lagrangian stochastic model to compute CH4 emission rates from the observed mole fractions, in combination with turbulence statistics measured by a sonic anemometer. With careful screening for suitable wind conditions, a difference of 10% in group emission rates could be detected. This result was corroborated by simultaneous measurements of daily CH4 emissions from each animal with the sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) tracer-ratio technique.

• 出版日期2014-12