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Updated: May 31, 2026
08:18
Design and Use of a Full Flow Sampling System (FFS) for the Quantification of Methane Emissions
Published on: June 12, 2016
Estimating methane emissions from Canadian landfills using aircraft measurements
Chelsea Fougère1, Donya Ghasemi2, Afshan Khaleghi1
1Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Waste Management (New York, N.Y.)
|May 28, 2026
Summary
Aircraft measurements revealed Canadian landfills emit less methane than reported. This study highlights data gaps and the need for better monitoring of landfill methane emissions across Canada.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Atmospheric Chemistry
- Geoscience
Background:
- Modeled and reported landfill emission inventories have uncertainties.
- Aircraft-based measurements are crucial for validating emission data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure methane (CH4) emissions from Canadian landfills using aircraft-based methods.
- To compare measurement-based estimates with existing inventory data.
- To identify factors influencing landfill emissions in Canada.
Main Methods:
- Employed aircraft-based measurements across 21 Canadian landfills in Alberta, Ontario, and Québec.
- Utilized mass balance equations for ascending loop measurements.
- Applied an inverted Gaussian dispersion model for downwind transect data.
Main Results:
- Canadian landfills were found to be relatively low-emitting, with median CH4 emissions of 73.7 kg/hr.
- Measurement-based estimates were consistently lower than inventory values for Alberta landfills.
- No correlation was found between emissions and waste in place or temperature; weak correlations with area and precipitation.
Conclusions:
- Significant discrepancies exist between measured and inventoried landfill methane emissions in Canada.
- Canadian regulators lack reliable data on landfill emissions, hindering understanding and mitigation.
- There is a critical need for increased measurement-based monitoring to improve accuracy and assess mitigation effectiveness.
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