Development of Quantitative Landfill Methane Emissions Methods via Mass Balance and Tracer Relationships

Grantees: Ilana B. Pollack, Caroline C. Womack, Kelvin H. Bates, and Steven S. Brown – University of Colorado Boulder and NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory
Amount: $194,000
Project Duration: 2 years

Accurate landfill methane estimates depend on understanding both the emissions being measured and the conditions that affect measurement. This project will evaluate how wind, weather, site conditions, and detection limits influence estimates from airborne and satellite monitoring.

Researchers will analyze data collected during NOAA-led field campaigns in Colorado, Utah, and the Washington, D.C./Maryland region in 2024 and 2025. The study will combine aircraft-based methane measurements with detailed wind profiles to calculate emission rates, compare those estimates with other monitoring platforms, and investigate chemical signatures that help distinguish landfill emissions from nearby sources.

The project will bring these observations into a comparable database and develop recommendations for evaluating monitoring performance and uncertainty. The work aims to help landfill operators and others interpret emissions data, assess monitoring approaches, and strengthen the basis for emissions inventories and mitigation planning.