Estimation of Methane Emissions from Rice Paddies in South Korea : Leveraging Meteorological and Satellite Data

The intensification of global warming and the increasing need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions have made methane (CH4) a significant concern due to its strong impact on climate change. In particular, the agricultural sector is a major source of methane emissions, with rice paddies being a primary contributor. The methane emissions from rice paddies are determined by the decomposition of organic matter in flooded soils and microbial activity, and this process is influenced by weather conditions, moisture levels, and soil characteristics. Accurately estimating and quantitatively analyzing these methane emissions is essential for developing strategies to address climate change.

This study presents a method for estimating and spatially visualizing methane emissions from rice paddies in South Korea using satellite-based weather data and meteorological modeling. The research combines ERA5 meteorological data, MODIS satellite data, and ground observation data from FluxNet to estimate methane concentrations in the rice paddy areas of South Korea, incorporating factors such as rice growth and moisture conditions. In particular, the study analyzes the impact of vegetation growth and moisture conditions on methane concentrations by including NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) and NDWI (Normalized Difference Water Index) data. The study uses a Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM) model to predict daily methane concentrations, visualizing the emissions as spatially gridded data to analyze methane emissions from rice paddies. The results show that weather variables such as temperature, humidity, soil moisture, and evapotranspiration play a significant role in methane emissions, and the study identifies spatiotemporal variability in methane concentrations reflecting seasonal changes. This research demonstrates the potential of using satellite data to predict methane emissions and provides scientific evidence for greenhouse gas reduction strategies in the agricultural sector.

By analyzing methane emissions from rice paddies, this study contributes to the development of strategies for mitigating climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting the importance of satellite-based data and meteorological models for environmental research. Furthermore, the integrated approach combining weather data and satellite imagery offers valuable insights for climate and meteorological studies.

This work was carried out with the support of the "Cooperative Research Program for Agriculture Science and Technology Development (Project No. PJ0162342025)" by the Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.