United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Air and Energy Engineering
Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
Research and Development
EPA/600/S8-90/071 Jan. 1991
EPA Project Summary
Literature Review of
Greenhouse Gas
Emissions from Biogenic
Sources
D. Campbell, M. Stockton, S. Buchanan, J. McLean, R, Pandullo, R. Peer,
and J.A. Probert
A literature review is presented of
estimates of biogenic emissions of five
greenhouse gases: CO2, CH4, CO, N2O,
and NOX. Results of the review include
data and information from about 170
sourcespublished overthe past 10 years.
The report's two sections cover green-
house gases containing (1) carbon and
(2) nitrogen. Within each section, emis-
sions estimates are grouped by type of
source or sink in a series of tables. First,
emission factors are given as a rate in
units of mass per unit area per unit time
(e.g., kg ha-1 yr1), except for NO and N2O
produced by lightning. Second, budget
estimates are provided in units of mass
per unit of time (e.g., g yr1). Finally, a few
authors provided reservoir estimates in
units of mass per land area (e.g., kg nr2);
these represent the potential amount of
a greenhouse gas that is stored in a
specific ecosystem or type of biota. Other
data presented in the report are specific
to the gas or source and are used to
calculate a total budget estimate (e.g.,
land estimates for CH4 emitted from rice
paddies).
This Project Summary wasdeveloped
by EPA's Air and Energy Engineering
Research Laboratory, Research Triangle
Park, NC, to announce key findings of
the research project that is fully docu-
mented in a separate report of the same
title (see Project Report ordering infor-
mation at back).
Introduction
This report is an overview of the quanti-
tative estimates of biogenic emissions of
five greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide
(CO?), methane (CH4), carbon monoxide
(CO), nitrous oxide (N2O), and nitrogen ox-
ides (NOX). The information in the report
was developed by surveying the literature
and through discussions with researchers
who have published recently in this field.
Although it does not represent an exhaus-
tive search of all research and studies
conducted to date, it does contain a con-
siderable amount of data and information
from about 170 readily available sources
published over the past 10 years.
The report is divided into two sections,
covering (1) the carbon-containing green-
house gases and (2) the nitrogen-containing
greenhouse gases. Within each section,
the emission estimates are grouped by type
of source or sink in a series of tables (see
Table 1). A, brief explanatory text on each
greenhouse gas is provided within the tables.
Three quantitative emission estimates
are provided in the tables. First, emission
factors are given as a rate, usually in Units
of mass per area per unit of time (e.g., kg
ha'1 yr1). The one exception is in the esti-
mates of NOx and N2O produced by light-
ning, for which the emission factors are
given in terms of mass per lightning stroke
or mass per unit of energy (e.g., molecules
per joule).
The second estimates provided are
budget estimates, for which the units are
mass per unit of time (e.g., kg yr1). A res-
ervoir estimate represents the potential
amount of a greenhouse gas that is stored'
in a specific ecosystem or type of biota. For
example, reservoir estimates of carbon
stored in various ecosystems are cited.
These represent the amount of carbon which
would be released, primarily as CO2, if the
biomass were burned.
Other data presented in this report are
specific to a gas or source and are used to
calculate atotal budget estimate. Examples
are the number of animals per unit area, for
methane emissions from ruminants, and
Printed on Recycled Paper
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land area estimates, for methane emitted
from rice paddies.
No judgments were made as to the
quality or validity of the data included in the
report; data were derived from a wide range
of approaches, including field measure-
ments, laboratory measurements, mass
balance calculations, and theoretical cal-
culations. Although the "comments" column
in each table in the report provides some
indication of the origins of the estimates, the
reader is strongly advised to refer to the
original reference before using any of the
data presented in this report.
In some cases, summary tables from
review articles were used. These are clearly
noted in the report, and the primary author
and date are provided. Although the original
reference is not cited in the reference list, it
can be found by referring to the review
article.
Journals published prior to February
1990 were included in the literature survey;
most attention was given to major journals
concerned with biogeochemical processes.
These include Global Biogeochemical
Cycles, the Journal of Geophysical Re-
search, the Journal of Atmospheric Chem-
istry, and Atmospheric Environment.
Table 1. Tables Included in Full Report
Table No.
2-1
2-2
2-3
2-4
2-5
2-6
2-7
2-8
2-9
2-10
2-11
2-12
2-13
3-1
3-2
3-3
3-4
3-5
3-6
3-7
3-8
* ;
COZ Emitted from Terrestrial Biota
The Ocean As a Sink for CO.,
CH4 Emitted from Rice Paddies
CH4 Emitted from Wetlands
CH4 Emitted from Tundra
CH4 Emitted from Animals (Ruminants)
CH4 Emitted from Termites
CH4 Emitted from BiomassBurning
CO Emitted from Biomass Burning
, CO Emitted from Oceans
Soil As a Sink for CO
CO Emitted from the Tropics
CO Emitted from Rice Paddies
N2O Emitted from Fertilizer Use
W2O Emitted from Soils ;
W2O Emitted from Aquifers
NOX Emitted from Soils
NOX Emitted from NH3 Oxidation
NOxandNsO Emitted from Biomass Burning
NOX and Nfl Emitted from Lightning
NOX and N.,0 Emitted from Oceans
D. Campbell, M. Stockton, S. Buchanan, J. McLean, R. Pandullo, R. Peer,
andJ.A. Probert are with the Radian Corp., Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.
Julian W. Jones is the EPA Project Officer (see below).
The complete report, entitled "Literature Review of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from
Biogenic Sources," (Order No. PB890-274085/AS; Cost: $17.00, subject to change)
will be available only from:
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Telephone: 703-487-4650
The EPA Project Officer can be contacted at:
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Center for Environmental Research
Information
Cincinnati, OH 45268
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Penalty for Private Use $300
EPA/600/SS-90/071
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