Handley, Robert (2012) Carbon offsetting through soil carbon sequestration for the coal mining industry: an application of a soil carbon modelling. [USQ Project]
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Abstract
The purpose of this project is to produce a GIS model that collates information on land use, land management and soil type to develop a spatial model to assess the regional
potential to sequester carbon. This model will be calibrated by assessing soil sampling data collected by NSW Office of Environment and Heritage and CarbonWatch data
collected by HHM projects. Additionally best practice land use management in the region will be used to estimate soil carbon sequestration potential in the future and used to offset carbon emissions for an operational coal mine.
Managing the impacts of the mining industry on agricultural land and production as well as their operational carbon emissions are of increasing importance to the industry.
Additionally with the advent of carbon tax, carbon trading schemes may be on the horizon and effective offsetting will become crucial to the industry.
Spatial information was compiled using existing mapping, Soil landscapes, topography, as well as district information on management practices and existing Soil Carbon levels. The compiled GIS model will be able to define a unique set of variables for any point within the study area, these variables will be analysed using the RothC carbon models to develop a spatial model of the regional soil carbon levels.
Assuming the best potential change in soil carbon as a result of best land management this paper found that approximately 322 ha of improved land management is required to offset every hectare disturbed by mining.
Further work is required to improve the accuracy of the required soil carbon model input variables.
With key discussion points to include improved land management may lead to the potential to sequester carbon as well as increase productivity and economic incentives
from the regional industry
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| Item Type: | USQ Project |
|---|---|
| Refereed: | No |
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Engineering and Surveying - Department of Agricultural, Civil and Environmental Engineering (Up to 30 Jun 2013) |
| Supervisors: | McLean Bennett, John; Hugo, Lyndal |
| Date Deposited: | 20 Feb 2013 06:12 |
| Last Modified: | 20 Feb 2013 06:12 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | carbon offsetting; coal mining industry; soil carbon modelling; soil sampling |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 09 Engineering > 0907 Environmental Engineering > 090702 Environmental Engineering Modelling 09 Engineering > 0907 Environmental Engineering > 090703 Environmental Technologies |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 40 ENGINEERING > 4011 Environmental engineering > 401199 Environmental engineering not elsewhere classified 40 ENGINEERING > 4011 Environmental engineering > 401102 Environmentally sustainable engineering |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/23037 |
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