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Methane emission from animals: A Global High‐Resolution Data Base
Author(s) -
Lerner Jean,
Matthews Elaine,
Fung Inez
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
global biogeochemical cycles
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.512
H-Index - 187
eISSN - 1944-9224
pISSN - 0886-6236
DOI - 10.1029/gb002i002p00139
Subject(s) - methane , environmental science , high resolution , population , atmospheric methane , spatial distribution , zoology , agriculture , greenhouse gas , physical geography , atmospheric sciences , geography , biology , ecology , remote sensing , geology , demography , sociology
We present a high‐resolution global data base of animal population densities and associated methane emission. Statistics on animal populations from the Food and Agriculture Organization and other sources have been compiled. Animals were distributed using a 1° resolution data base of countries of the world and a 1° resolution data base of land use. The animals included are cattle and dairy cows, water buffalo, sheep, goats, camels, pigs, horses and caribou. Published estimates of methane production from each type of animal have been applied to the animal populations to yield a global distribution of annual methane emission by animals. There is large spatial variability in the distribution of animal populations and their methane emissions. Emission rates greater than 5000 kg CH 4 km −2 yr −1 are found in small regions such as Bangladesh, the Benelux countries, parts of northern India, and New Zealand. Of the global annual emission of 75.8 Tg CH 4 for 1984, about 55% is concentrated between 25°N and 55°N, a significant contribution to the observed north‐south gradient of atmospheric methane concentration. A magnetic tape of the global data bases is available from the authors.