< Back to Community News

In The News – UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center researchers advance methane emission modeling techniques for freshwater reservoirs

January 16, 2025 | Member Submitted

Originally Published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 1/15/25, Submitted

Researchers at the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) and Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE) have advanced greenhouse gas (GHG) emission research by advancing existing modeling techniques to enhance understanding of methane emissions from inland freshwater lakes and reservoirs, specifically focusing on the substrate (sediment) type and variability in space and time.  

This pioneering study, executed in collaboration with Valley Water of Santa Clara County and researchers at the University of Granada (Spain), integrates hydroacoustic measurements with sediment sampling and gas analysis to assess methane generation and release from freshwater lakes and reservoirs more accurately. By adapting older acoustic techniques to account for varying substrate types and conditions, the TERC team has significantly improved our understanding of how to quantify methane emissions from inland waterbodies, contributing vital insights to climate change mitigation efforts.

READ MORE >

Photo Credit: TERC

Related Blog Posts

Sign up for our weekly SnapShot newsletter

Translate