Open AccessEstimates and Predictions of Methane Emissions from Wastewater in China from 2000 to 2020
Author(s) -
Du Mingxi,
Zhu Qiuan,
Wang Xiaoge,
Li Peng,
Yang Bin,
Chen Huai,
Wang Meng,
Zhou Xiaolu,
Peng Changhui
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
earth's future
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.641
H-Index - 39
ISSN - 2328-4277
DOI - 10.1002/2017ef000673
Subject(s) - methane , greenhouse gas , wastewater , environmental science , industrial wastewater treatment , environmental engineering , climate change , sewage treatment , china , methane emissions , global warming , geography , ecology , oceanography , geology , archaeology , biology
Methane accounts for 20% of the global warming caused by greenhouse gases, and wastewater is a major anthropogenic source of methane. Based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change greenhouse gas inventory guidelines and current research findings, we calculated the amount of methane emissions from 2000 to 2014 that originated from wastewater from different provinces in China. Methane emissions from wastewater increased from 1349.01 to 3430.03 Gg from 2000 to 2014, and the mean annual increase was 167.69 Gg. The methane emissions from industrial wastewater treated by wastewater treatment plants ( E It ) accounted for the highest proportion of emissions. We also estimated the future trend of industrial wastewater methane emissions using the artificial neural network model. A comparison of the emissions for the years 2020, 2010, and 2000 showed an increasing trend in methane emissions in China and a spatial transition of industrial wastewater emissions from eastern and southern regions to central and southwestern regions and from coastal regions to inland regions. These changes were caused by changes in economics, demographics, and relevant policies.