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ARS Home » Midwest Area » St. Paul, Minnesota » Soil and Water Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #236030
Title: Moving Up to the Top of the Landfill: A Field-Validated, Science-Based Methane Emissions Inventory Model for California Landfills

Author
item BOGNER, J - LANDFILLS+INC. U OF CHICA
item Spokas, Kurt
item CHANTON, J - FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
item FRANCO, G - CALIF ENERGY COMMISSION

Submitted to: Trade Journal Publication
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/25/2009
Publication Date: 3/1/2009
Citation: Bogner, J., Spokas, K.A., Chanton, J., Franco, G. 2009. Moving Up to the Top of the Landfill: A Field-Validated, Science-Based Methane Emissions Inventory Model for California Landfills. MSW Management. 19(2):36-39.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: California is typically at the forefront of innovative planning & regulatory strategies for environmental protection in the U.S. Two years ago, a research project was initiated by the California Energy Commission to develop an improved method for landfill methane emissions for the state greenhouse gas inventory. This article briefly describes the background and substance of this new methodology, which will be finalized during 2009 and is the topic of the Keynote Presentation at this year’s Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) Landfill Gas Symposium. This new methodology represents significant advances over previous strategies, as it incorporates site-specific information on the areal extent of cover materials (daily, intermediate, final) and the effects of seasonal climatic variability on methane transport and emissions. Unlike previous methods, it does not rely primarily on a methane generation model and thus moves up to the top of the landfill to directly address methane emissions. The last 10-15 years of research results on landfill methane transport, oxidation, and emissions have given us the knowledge & tools to develop a more science-based approach which also incorporates advances in modeling strategies.