Posted 3/12/2024, 8:07:04 PM
Turkmenistan Methane Emissions Surged After 1991 Soviet Collapse Despite Economic Decline
- Study finds methane emissions in Turkmenistan increased after 1991 Soviet collapse, despite economic decline and lower oil/gas production
- Researchers used AI to analyze satellite images showing growth in number and size of methane plumes post-1991
- Possible reasons include failing infrastructure, broken components, less oversight, and inability to export excess gas
- Year 1994 saw largest methane emissions, when Russia blocked Turkmenistan from piping gas to Europe
- Findings question assumption that Soviet collapse slowed global methane emissions in 1990s