Jharia coal fires may burn hotter, emit more greenhouse gases than thought
A new study reveals that underground fires in the Jharia coal fields may burn hotter and emit more greenhouse gases than previously thought. Researchers found that these fires can create collapse structures extending over 100 meters, venting significant amounts of hot gases. The estimated global warming potential of these fires could reach nearly 749 million tons of CO2-equivalent annually, highlighting the need for better monitoring of such emissions.
- ▪Fires in the Jharia coal fields have been burning for decades, releasing smoke and gases.
- ▪The study found that collapse structures from these fires can stretch vertically for over 100 meters.
- ▪Researchers estimated that the fires could emit up to 748.72 million tons of CO2-equivalent per year.
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Fires have burnt beneath the Jharia coal fields in Jharkhand for decades now, releasing smoke and gases through cracks in the ground. And according to a new study, parts of this underground fire system may burn hotter and release more greenhouse gases than previously estimated.Researchers from the U.K. and India, including the CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CIMFR), reported in a May 18 paper in Communications Earth & Environment that the collapse structures created when underground fires consume coal seams and destabilise the rock above them can stretch vertically for more than 100 m through the earth, venting hot gases into the air.When mining exposes coal to oxygen, natural oxidation reactions can trigger underground fires that smoulder for decades.
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