Development of measurement technique to identify the origin of methane in the Western Siberia lowlands

Main natural source of methane is marshy ground, especially the Western Siberia has the largest one of about 3000 km2, in the world. To estimate the amount of methane and to make clear the change factors of them are very important. The distribution of methane and whether conditions in the Western Siberia were studied by airplane. Sampling area, sampling equipment and radioactive carbon isotope measurement method were explained. The results made clear that we had to carry out two kinds of sampling of atmosphere, one of them was near the ground (at height of 100 and 500 m), which concentration and the rate of 14C were determined, and other in the high (a height of 6000 m) so as to the back ground. Sampling atmosphere contented nitrogen, oxygen, steam, carbon dioxide, argon, nitrous oxide hydrogen, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon and methane. The ratio of amount of methane generated to that of 14C was determined by increasing amount of concentration of methane and 14C ratio. (S.Y.)