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A Qualitative Assessment of the Trends, Distribution and Sources of Methane in South Africa

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  • Lerato Shikwambana

    (School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa
    Earth Observation Directorate, South African National Space Agency, Pretoria 0001, South Africa)

  • Boitumelo Mokgoja

    (School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa)

  • Paidamwoyo Mhangara

    (School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa)

Abstract

Methane (CH 4 ) is the second most important greenhouse gas (GHG) in terms of its concentration and impact on the climate. In the present study, we investigate the trends, sources and distribution of CH4 in South Africa. The study uses satellite datasets from Sentinel-5P and the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS). The study also uses credible datasets from the World Bank, Statistics South Africa and the Global Methane Initiative (GMI). The results show an increasing trend of CH 4 from 1970–1989. A turning point is observed in 1989, where a decreasing trend is observed from 1989–2001. An increasing trend is then observed from 2001 to 2021. A high concentration of CH 4 is observed in the northern and interior parts of South Africa. The results also show that CH 4 concentration is influenced by seasonal variations. The September–October–November (SON) season has the highest CH 4 concentration distribution in South Africa. The World Bank, Statistics South Africa and the GMI CH 4 indictors show that agricultural activities, i.e., involving livestock, are the greatest emitters of CH 4 in South Africa, followed by landfill sites. From the livestock data, sheep are the highest emitters of CH 4 . The increasing CH 4 trend is a concern and efforts need to be made to drastically reduce emissions, if South Africa is to meet the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, 2015 Paris Agreement, sustainable development goal 13 (SDG 13) and the COP26 outcome agreements.

Suggested Citation

  • Lerato Shikwambana & Boitumelo Mokgoja & Paidamwoyo Mhangara, 2022. "A Qualitative Assessment of the Trends, Distribution and Sources of Methane in South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:6:p:3528-:d:773272
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chynoweth, David P & Owens, John M & Legrand, Robert, 2001. "Renewable methane from anaerobic digestion of biomass," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 22(1), pages 1-8.
    2. Elizabeth A. Scheehle and Dina Kruger, 2006. "Global Anthropogenic Methane and Nitrous Oxide Emissions," The Energy Journal, International Association for Energy Economics, vol. 0(Special I), pages 33-44.
    3. Anita L. Ganesan & Matt Rigby & Mark F. Lunt & Robert J. Parker & Hartmut Boesch & N. Goulding & Taku Umezawa & Andreas Zahn & Abhijit Chatterjee & Ronald G. Prinn & Yogesh K. Tiwari & Marcel Schoot &, 2017. "Atmospheric observations show accurate reporting and little growth in India’s methane emissions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-7, December.
    4. Lerato Shikwambana & Paidamwoyo Mhangara & Mahlatse Kganyago, 2021. "Assessing the Relationship between Economic Growth and Emissions Levels in South Africa between 1994 and 2019," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-15, March.
    5. Angel Fernandez-Cortes & Soledad Cuezva & Miriam Alvarez-Gallego & Elena Garcia-Anton & Concepcion Pla & David Benavente & Valme Jurado & Cesareo Saiz-Jimenez & Sergio Sanchez-Moral, 2015. "Subterranean atmospheres may act as daily methane sinks," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-11, November.
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