Estimation of emissions and modeling of the environmental behavior of greenhouse gases for a landfill Estimación de emisiones y modelización del comportamiento ambiental de los gases de efecto invernadero para un relleno sanitario

Abstract

The study addressed the problem of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at the La Cortada Landfill (RSLC) in Pamplona, ​​Norte de Santander. Since its creation in 2006, this landfill has received a significant amount of waste daily, contributing to the constant release of GHGs. The main objective was to estimate GHG emissions, understand their trajectories and model their dispersion in the environment. To achieve this, specialized tools such as LandGEM, Hysplit and Aermod were used, satellite images from the OLI sensor on board the Landsat 8 satellite were selected in periods between August and October from 2016 to 2020. An empirical methane estimation model was also applied. (estimated CH4), which relates land surface temperature (LST) to methane concentrations measured in the field between 2021-2023 (observed CH4). The results showed that measurements using satellite images gave lower values ​​than those obtained in the field (0.007 mg/m3 per year, annual average of Estimated CH4) and (0.05 mg/m3 per year, annual average of observed CH4). In conclusion, The RSLC represented a significant source of GHGs, and this estimation approach based on satellite imagery and field measurements validated the importance of addressing these emissions to promote more sustainable solid waste disposal practices and protect air quality and regional well-being. , likewise allows arguing the implementation of biogas capture systems in the landfill to reduce methane (CH4) emissions, and the exploration so that this resource can be used as a source of renewable energy to produce heat or electricity, which would contribute to sustainability and emissions reduction.