Temperature Influence on the Variability and Emission of CH4 and CO2 from a Former Manchester Landfill

Abstract

Analysis of datasets in time order was carried out to determine the consequence of atmospheric temperature on the changes in CH4 and CO2 concentrations at a former landfill site. The Gasclam (in-borehole gas monitor) was used to collect field data of CH4/CO2 concentrations and the environmental parameters. The magnitude of the relationship of ground-gas concentration and the barometric temperature was obtained by linear regression analysis. The result reveals variability in CH4 and CO2 concentrations with poor positive relationships of 0.016 and 0.014, respectively, with barometric temperature over the whole sampling period. Despite slightly improving the R2 by taking into account their concentration over single phases of upward and downward limb temperature, single phases of upward limb temperature, and single phases of downward limb temperature, their correlations remained insignificant at a 95% confidence level. The implication is that temperature (just like pressure) is not the dominant influence on CH4 and CO2 concentrations changes at this site. Having established barometric pressure and temperature as minor controls, a recommendation was made for the establishment of other potential controls (particularly variations in the site water depth) and their degree of control.

Keywords

• landfill gas
• climate forcing
• climate mitigation policies
• explosive mixture
• asphyxiant