Major Contributors to Methane Production in Australia

Major Contributors to Methane Production in Australia

Major Contributors to Methane Production in Australia

There are several major contributors of methane in Australia. Enteric fermentation during food digestion by ruminant animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, is the largest source (Animal Liberation South Africa, not dated). A large proportion of methane is also released by solid wastes disposed by municipal council (Fraser, et al, 2011). As well, energy production activity, especially coal mining in Australia discharges a significant proportion of Australian methane emissions. In addition, termites produce a considerable amount of methane during the process of decomposing organic material (Fraser, et al, 2011). Finally, methane is released by landfills and during the process of wastewater treatment. Therefore, the major sources of methane in Australia include agricultural activities, disposed solid wastes, landfills and processes of energy production, decomposing of organic matter and wastewater treatment.

References

Animal Liberation South Africa, (not dated), Methane and Livestock, Retrieved 10 March 2012 from, HYPERLINK “http://animalliberation.org.au/green-living/20-related-issues/41-methane.html” http://animalliberation.org.au/green-living/20-related-issues/41-methane.html – This source contains blog information which is not reviewed. Thus, it may not be not reliable.

Fraser, A., Miller, C. C., Palmer, P. I, Deutscher, N. M., Jones, N. B. & Griffith, D. W. T., (2011). ‘The Australian methane budget: Interpreting surface and train-borne measurements using a chemistry transport model.’ Journal of Geophysical Research, 166(20), pp. 1-22 – This source is a peer reviewed journal and thus, it is more reliable and credible.

HYPERLINK “http://www.publish.csiro.au.ezproxy.une.edu.au/?paper=AN09132” http://www.publish.csiro.au.ezproxy.une.edu.au/?paper=AN09132 – This link leads to university database that requires login details, which I do not have.