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Termites and global methane—another assessment

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Abstract

New CH4 emission data from a number of Northern and Southern Hemispheric, tropical and temperate termites, are reported, which indicate that the annual global CH4 source due to termites is probably less than 15 Tg. The major uncertainties in this estimate are identified and found to be substantial. Nevertheless, our results suggest that termites probably account for less than 5% of global CH4 emissions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CSIRO Division of Atmospheric Research, Private Bag No. 1, 3195, Mordialloc, Victoria, Australia

    P. J. Fraser

  2. Department of Environmental Science, Oregon Graduate Center, 19600 Walker Road, 97006, Beaverton, OR, U.S.A.

    R. A. Rasmussen & M. A. K. Khalil

  3. CSIRO Division of Chemical and Wood Technology, Graham Road, P.O. Box 56, 3190, Highett, Victoria, Australia

    J. W. Creffield & J. R. French

Authors
  1. P. J. Fraser
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  2. R. A. Rasmussen
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  3. J. W. Creffield
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  4. J. R. French
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  5. M. A. K. Khalil
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Fraser, P.J., Rasmussen, R.A., Creffield, J.W. et al. Termites and global methane—another assessment. J Atmos Chem 4, 295–310 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00053806

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00053806

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