Social-environmental analysis of methane in the South China Sea and bordering countries

Alice Newton,Alberto V. Borges,T. Angel DelValls,Hsiao-Chun Tseng,Chen-Tung Arthur Chen

doi:10.1139/anc-2017-0007

Abstract

This study is a preliminary assessment of the greenhouse effect of methane (CH4) emissions in the South China Sea (SCS) on human welfare using the driver-pressure-state-impact-response (DPSIR) fram...

Highlights

The Earth’s climate system is powered by solar radiation
The redox state of the environment is an important factor in determining the biological cycling of CH4. Because this redox state is determined by the ambient oxygen (O2) concentration, changes in O2 distribution may alter the strength of CH4 sources
The DPSIR analysis (Fig. 2) addresses the following research questions. (i) What are the Drivers and human activities that increase CH4 concentrations in the South China Sea (SCS)? (ii) How do those human activities influence the environment? (iii) What are the consequences thereof the state of the environment? (iv) What are the impacts on human welfare? (v) Which societal responses and management measures can reduce CH4 emissions from the SCS?

Summary

Introduction

The Earth’s climate system is powered by solar radiation. Infrared radiation from the sun that is emitted from the Earth’s surface is largely absorbed by certain atmospheric constituents: water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and other greenhouse gases (GHGs). Because this redox state is determined by the ambient oxygen (O2) concentration, changes in O2 distribution may alter the strength of CH4 sources Such changes in the oceanic O2 distribution may be caused by changes in circulation or stratification in response to global warming, and (or) by the elevated respiration of organic matter as a result of an increased supply of nutrients from land (Naqvi et al 2010; Borges et al 2017) or the upwelling of increasingly nutrient-rich subsurface waters (Lui et al 2014). This paper analyzes the issue of CH4 in the SCS in the context of global change, using a social-environmental approach and scientific and economic data It considers both global change of the human (population and organic matter inputs) and the environmental (climate change and GHGs, for example) dimensions. It provides management recommendations to reduce CH4 emissions in the SCS

Methods of social-environmental analysis

Results of social-environmental analysis

Economic drivers — and human activities

Resulting pressure on the environment

STATE of the environment of the SCS

IMPACT on human welfare

Societal response and management recommendations from DPSIR

Summary: societal response and management recommendations from DPSIR

Findings

Future study

Conclusions