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Flatulent Cows Traditional Cache

Hidden : 8/26/2007
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
2.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

NOTE: There is a way to the cache that doesn't require scaling fences, only hopping through one "Step Through Gate"... you may have to walk around though!

A lot of talk in recent years about how much methane Cows or Sheep or other ruminants produce.

Methane is a greenhouse gas, when released into the atmosphere it can contribute to global warming.

When captured, methane can be processed into a renewable energy source for powering equipment or generating green electricity. This reduces greenhouse gas emissions at the same time!

According to the Quirky Facts sheet at ActewAGL a cow farts about 600 litres of methane gas everyday. Which is enough to fill up 40 (rather stinky) party balloons.
(visit link)

In the ACT methane gas generators operate at the Mugga Lane and West Belconnen landfills.

If you look to the North of this cache, you will be able to se the Mugga Lane - Methane farm. (visit link)

These two power stations burn enough methane gas to generate 3.3 megawatts of electricity each year. This is enough energy to power over 3,000 homes for more than 20 years, or to power half of Canberra’s schools and a third of our streetlights for 10 years.
(visit link)

Methane is the most important greenhouse gas resulting from human activities except for carbon dioxide. Scientists have discovered that the amount of methane in the atmosphere began to rise two or three centuries ago. They now believe that current methane emissions will account for over 15% of man-induced climate change over a 100-year time frame (because methane has a relatively short life-time in the atmosphere, the impact of current emissions will be less over longer time frames).

In descending order of importance, the human activities that result in methane emissions are livestock farming, production of fossil fuels, wet rice cultivation, biomass burning, landfills, and domestic sewage.

Information Unit on Climate Change (IUCC) - (visit link)

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