Methane gas (CH4) is a chemical compound and is one of the main constituent of natural gas. The relative amount of methane on Earth makes it an effective alternative fuel, capturing and storing it poses a challenge due to its gaseous state. (Beaudry, 2015)
An article by Byline Manual states that greenhouse effect is a “natural” process that warms the Earth by the occurrence of greenhouse gases. When the sunlight reaches our atmosphere, some of it is reflected back to space and the rest is absorbed and radiated in the Earth’s atmosphere with the help of greenhouse gases Examples of greenhouse gases are water vapor, methane, carbon dioxide, ozone, nitrous oxide, and artificial chemical such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFC). This natural process warms the Earth’s atmosphere by at least 33 degrees Celsius, allowing life to exist on Earth. (Graham, 2015)
According to Burdett (2018), methane, carbon dioxide and other molecules contributes directly to the enhanced greenhouse effect. Enhanced greenhouse effect is caused by anthropogenic activities. Burning fossil fuels, such as natural gas, coal, and oil, agriculture and land cleaning. These human activities directly contributes to the warming of Earth’s surface.
As stated by Nunez (2019), global warming is becoming more evident in Earth’s surface. Its climate throughout the history clearly had a drastic rise in temperature. The Earth’s average temperature has risen about 0.9 degrees Celsius sine 19th century. Most of the warmest years since was recorded in the year 2016. One of the main reasons global warming is currently happening is the abundance of greenhouse gases.
According to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), carbon dioxide account for 82 percent of all greenhouse gases emissions from anthropogenic or human activities. Humans have been altering the natural carbon cycle in the atmosphere by adding more C02 and by influencing the ability of nature to remove gaseous C02 from the atmosphere. (Nyman, 2014)
According to the article on AZoCleantech, methane is the second most abundant greenhouse gases emitted from the human activities. It only account for about 9 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions. It is still a important part of greenhouse effect. Like CO2, it can be naturally removed from the atmosphere, this can no longer happen due to the excess methane gas produced by the humans Methane gas as a greenhouse gas has more significant effects than carbon dioxide. Methane naturally traps heat and light 100 times more than a carbon dioxide could within a 5-year period and 72 times more within a 20-year period. (Hamilton, 2015)
As mentioned by Hadley (2018), methane gas is an important gas and a main component of natural gases since it can be used in several ways. The simple combustion of methane can help to generate electricity and power homes and other buildings. It has several uses. Natural gas is cheaper than electricity. It is an option for people who are not able to afford electricity who still needs power and heat. Methane gas can also be used for heating. It can be used in a fireplace, used to heat your water, an also used for drying your clothes. Methane, in a form of natural gas, also has industrial uses. It is a common plastic component, fertilizer ingredient, fabric and anti-freeze. It can be used by the industries that makes pulp and paper. Methane combustion can help to sanitize, dry, melt, and dehumidify products.
According to an article from Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, methane gas can also affect the health of people that is exposed to a large amount of methane. Through inhalation of a high concentration of methane gas, oxygen can be displaced from your body. It can cause rapid breathing, rapid heart rate, and fatigue. Lack of oxygen can also cause permanent brain damage and heart damage. Methane gas is known to be flammable in nature. Exposing it to open flames, static discharges and sparks, heat, and other ignition sources can cause an accident or fire. Its contact with oxidizing agents and halogens, which is very common to our environment, can increase the risk of fire.
Decomposing organic waste material is one of the main contributor of methane gas in the atmosphere. Manure, food waste, paper waste, wood waste, green waste are examples of organic waste. Because of this unattended matter, methane gas emissions is drastically increasing. (Fumang, 2014)
To avoid these environmental problems, we should find a way to reduce both methane gas that is enhancing the effects of greenhouse gases and global warming and organic waste.
Regatierri et. al. (2018) states that organic waste is being disposed in a site called “landfill”. Landfills serves as a way to isolate trash from its surrounding environment by burying waste underground, preventing water contamination, contact with air, and contact with humans. However, landfills are not built to decompose waste, leaving the landfill full of unwanted and unusable waste. But this is where advanced disposal landfills comes into action.
According to Mills (2017), advanced disposal landfill are used as an energy conservers. Gas from waste in landfills is 50% methane gas and it is collected for a facility to change it from gas into energy. This energy conversion of gas into energy is a very effective way of recycling and reusing this available and valuable resource. Also, this collection prevents the pure and raw methane gas from escaping into the atmosphere as a enhancer of greenhouse effect.
As stated by Fumang (2014), This method is a safer and more effective way than coal mining plants. Coal mining is valued for its energy extraction from coal and is widely used to generate power and electricity. However, coal mining introduces various hazards from its workers and its environment. Air pollution, suffocation, firedamp explosions are the main reason why coal mining is considered to be a bad way of extracting energy from the Earth.
