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DEAR SIR: A very recent scientific publication by Robert W Howarth of Cornell University (Biogeosciences, 16, 3033–3046,) has commented on the rapid rise in atmospheric methane emissions since 2008.
Since then, atmospheric methane has risen rapidly, but it has become more depleted in 13C (the heavier isotope of non-radioactive carbon) in comparison with its greater enrichments in the late 20th century.
Many have attributed the increased levels of methane to biogenic sources (ruminants, bog lands which are slightly more enriched in 13C than fossil sources, that include natural gas).
Howarth’s analysis attributes the relative decline in the 13C/12C ratio to the increased levels of methane from the less 13C-enriched shale gas arising from fracking in the USA.
He concludes that the methane from shale gas may be responsible for a third of the global methane increases from all sources.
Irish suckler herd farmers are under severe financial stress arising from current livestock prices. This stress is heightened by suggestions that suckler herds will need to be greatly reduced for various reasons, one of which is their methane emissions.
Howarth’s research should question the veracity of that claim. Also, I have long proclaimed that we have in Ireland the technologies that can greatly reduce emissions of greenhouse gases from agriculture.
All that is required is a convention of those with the ranges of expertise required and the funding of the verification research needed.
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