In addition to releasing greenhouse gasses, U.S. oil and natural gas production emits ethane, a hydrocarbon that contributes to ozone formation. Near the Earth’s surface, ozone is harmful to both human health and the environment. In a new study published in Environmental Science & Technology, researchers estimated that ethane emissions levels are about three times higher than the EPA’s numbers. This finding, based on a model using NOAA’s ethane data from towers and aircraft between 2015 and 2020 that included reductions in emissions during the COVID-19 pandemic, suggests that the EPA’s estimates might be underestimating emissions due to outdated or incomplete reporting from oil and gas operations. To facilitate more accurate air pollution monitoring, the researchers plan to collaborate with policymakers and advocate for stricter environmental regulations targeting these emissions. This study contributes to and expands on an effort to assess atmospheric impacts due to changes in human activity during the COVID-19 pandemic through a grant from the Climate Program Office’s Atmospheric Chemistry, Carbon Cycle and Climate (AC4) program.
For more information, contact Clara Deck.
