CH4 emissions from European major population centers: Results from aircraft-borne CH4 in-situ observations during EMeRGe-Europe 2017

Abstract

Urban environments represent large and diffuse area sources of CH including emissions from pipeline leaks, industrial/sewage treatment plants, and landfills. However, there is little knowledge about the exact magnitude of these emissions and their contribution to total anthropogenic CH4. Especially in the context of an urbanizing world, a better understanding of the methane footprint of urban areas is crucial, both with respect to mitigation and projection of climate impacts. Aircraft-borne in-situ measurements are particularly useful to both quantify emissions from such area sources, as well as to study their impact on the regional distribution. However, airborne CH observations downstream of European cities are especially sparse.