Table 1 Summary of peatland and seismic line area and impact on methane emission

From: Petroleum exploration increases methane emissions from northern peatlands

Peatland type

Bog

Fen

Swamp

Totala

Total area in Alberta (km2)

30,050

58,580

46,160

134,790

Total length of seismic linesb (km)

88,580

144,580

112,480

345,640

Total areac covered by seismic lines (km2)

490

790

630

1910

Average CH4 undisturbed (g CH4 m−2)d

1.1

3.4

0.40

 

CH4 flux on seismic line (g CH4 m−2)d

2.5–2.8

7.8–8.5

0.80–0.85

 

Enhanced CH4 flux due to seismic lines (kt CH4)

0.69–0.80

3.44–4.01

0.25–0.29

4.43–5.14

  1. aValues may not add to total due to rounding
  2. bTotal of conventional, low-impact seismic lines and trails. See Methods and Supplementary Tables 2 and 3 for length and area of each line type
  3. cEstimated based on average widths of each line type as outlined in Methods
  4. dEstimated from mean daily fluxes during summer extended over the 123-day growing season. Winter fluxes assumed negligible. See Methods for more information
Back to article page