Two years of satellite observations were used to quantify methane emissions from coal mines in Queensland, the largest coal-producing state in Australia. The six analyzed surface and underground coal mines are estimated to emit 570 ± 98 Gg a^–1 in 2018–2019. Together, they account for 7% of the national coal production while emitting 55 ± 10% of the reported methane emission from coal mining in Australia. Our results indicate that for two of the three locations, our satellite-based estimates are significantly higher than reported to the Australian government. Most remarkably, 40% of the quantified emission came from a single surface mine (Hail Creek) located in a methane-rich coal basin. Our findings call for increased monitoring and investment in methane recovery technologies for both surface and underground mines.

中文翻译：

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使用 TROPOMI 卫星观测对澳大利亚超辐射煤矿的甲烷排放量进行量化

两年的卫星观测被用来量化澳大利亚最大产煤州昆士兰州煤矿的甲烷排放量。经分析的六个露天和地下煤矿估计排放 570 ± 98 Gg a ^–12018-2019 年。它们加起来占全国煤炭产量的 7%，同时排放的甲烷占澳大利亚煤炭开采报告的甲烷排放量的 55 ± 10%。我们的结果表明，对于这三个地点中的两个，我们基于卫星的估计明显高于向澳大利亚政府报告的数字。最引人注目的是，40% 的量化排放来自位于富含甲烷的煤盆地的一个露天矿山 (Hail Creek)。我们的研究结果呼吁加强对露天和地下矿山甲烷回收技术的监测和投资。