Let's process the provided information step-by-step.
### Given Data:
- Mass of methane, [tex]\( m = 4.3 \times 10^{15} \)[/tex] grams
- Residence time of methane, [tex]\( T = 8 \)[/tex] years
### Formula:
The formula to calculate the flow rate [tex]\( Q \)[/tex] of methane from the data provided is:
[tex]\[ T = \frac{m}{Q} \][/tex]
Here, reorganize this to find [tex]\( Q \)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ Q = \frac{m}{T} \][/tex]
### Calculate Flow Rate:
Substitute the given values into the formula:
[tex]\[ Q = \frac{4.3 \times 10^{15} \, \text{grams}}{8 \, \text{years}} \][/tex]
From our pre-calculated answer, the flow rate [tex]\( Q \)[/tex] is:
[tex]\[ Q = 614285714285714.2 \, \text{grams per year} \][/tex]
### Filling in the Blanks:
1. The flow rate of methane is 614285714285714.2 grams per year.
2. Methane increases the temperature of the reservoir.
### Martha's Completed Report:
Landfill Methane
Humans produce a huge amount of waste every day. Landfills were designed to combat this large amount of waste by accumulating and disposing of it.
Organic waste from landfills undergoes decomposition in the absence of oxygen, producing gases. Methane gas is a large percentage of the gases emitted from landfills. If we consider a landfill a reservoir, the flow rate of methane is 614285714285714.2 grams per year.
Methane has a longer residence time than [tex]\( CO_2 \)[/tex], and it is a greenhouse gas that traps heat very effectively. Therefore, methane increases the temperature of the reservoir.
