Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2019-419
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2019-419
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
14 Feb 2020
| 14 Feb 2020
Status: this preprint was under review for the journal BG but the revision was not accepted.
Comment on Ideas and perspectives: is shale gas a major driver of recent increase in global atmospheric methane?
by Robert W. Howarth (2019)
Abstract. The ideas and perspectives presented by Howarth (2019) on shale gas being a major cause of recent increases in global atmospheric methane are based on his notion that stable carbon isotopes of methane (δ13C1) of shale gas are lighter than that of conventional gas based on a meager and unrepresentative data set. A plethora of publicly available data show that the δ13C1 values of shale gas are typically heavier than those of conventional gas. This contradiction renders his ideas, perspectives, and calculations on methane emissions from shale gas invalid.
How to cite. Lewan, M. D.: Comment on
Ideas and perspectives: is shale gas a major driver of recent increase in global atmospheric methane?by Robert W. Howarth (2019), Biogeosciences Discuss. [preprint], https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2019-419, 2020.
Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this paper. While Copernicus Publications makes every effort to include appropriate place names, the final responsibility lies with the authors. Views expressed in the text are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.
Download & links
Status: closed
Status: closed
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
- Printer-friendly version
- Supplement
-
RC1: 'Review of Comment by Lewan', Anonymous Referee #1, 07 Mar 2020
-
RC2: 'Review of M.D. Lewan’s: Comments on “Ideas and perspectives: is shale gas a major driver of recent increase in global atmospheric methane?” by Robert W. Howarth (2019)', Anonymous Referee #2, 03 Apr 2020
Status: closed
Status: closed
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
- Printer-friendly version
- Supplement
-
RC1: 'Review of Comment by Lewan', Anonymous Referee #1, 07 Mar 2020
-
RC2: 'Review of M.D. Lewan’s: Comments on “Ideas and perspectives: is shale gas a major driver of recent increase in global atmospheric methane?” by Robert W. Howarth (2019)', Anonymous Referee #2, 03 Apr 2020
Viewed
Total article views: 2,772 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 14 Feb 2020)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,278 | 411 | 83 | 2,772 | 95 | 125 |
- HTML: 2,278
- PDF: 411
- XML: 83
- Total: 2,772
- BibTeX: 95
- EndNote: 125
Viewed (geographical distribution)
Total article views: 2,496 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 2,489 with geography defined
and 7 with unknown origin.
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
Cited
3 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Global Methane Budget 2000–2020 M. Saunois et al. 10.5194/essd-17-1873-2025
- The Global Methane Budget 2000–2017 M. Saunois et al. 10.5194/essd-12-1561-2020
- Produced Gas and Condensate Geochemistry of the Marcellus Formation in the Appalachian Basin: Insights into Petroleum Maturity, Migration, and Alteration in an Unconventional Shale Reservoir C. Laughrey 10.3390/min12101222
Discussed
Latest update: 19 Aug 2025
Michael D. Lewan
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
U.S. Geological Survey, Emeritus, Box 25046, MS 977, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225, USA
Short summary
A plethora of publicly available data show that the δ13C1 values of shale gas are typically heavier than those of conventional gas. This contradiction renders Howarth's ideas, perspectives,and calculations on methane emissions from shale gas invalid. The plethora of publicly available shale-gas data, also indicates that shale gas and conventional gas on a global basis cannot be readily distinguished based solely on δ13C1 values.
A plethora of publicly available data show that the δ13C1 values of shale gas are typically...
Altmetrics