Investigating the relationship between resistivity tomography and methane emissions in a controlled dumpsite: A comprehensive study of resistivity profiles

• Integration of resistivity surveys and flux chambers identify landfill gas collection sites. • Optimizing resistivity data arrangement enhances statistical analysis with methane data. • Low-resistivity zones (5.0–20.0 Ω·m) linked with high methane flux (10.0–200.0 g m-2 d-1). • The strong correlation identified between high methane flux and lower-resistivity zones. • Methane emissions are influenced by waste composition, moisture, compaction, landfill age, and air ambient. Controlled dumping––a widespread practice in developing countries––inadequately manages emissions of methane (CH 4 ), a greenhouse gas (GHG) that contributes significantly to global warming. Using advanced geophysical techniques, we explored the relationship between subsurface resistivity profiles and CH 4 emissions at a controlled dumpsite in Phraeksa Mai, Thailand, to improve landfill gas management strategies. A comprehensive survey of CH 4 emissions and subsurface resistivity was conducted using electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and closed flux chamber methods. The results indicate a moderate correlation ( r = –0.66, p < 0.05) between lower resistivity zones and elevated CH 4 fluxes. Specifically, areas exhibiting resistivity values of between 5 and 20 Ω·m were found to emit a lot of CH 4 at rates ranging from approximately 10 to >200 g m –2 d –1 . These findings suggest that ERT can effectively identify optimal locations for gas collection systems. Integrating ERT with CH 4 flux measurements enhances gas recovery efficiency by enabling the precise identification of CH 4 emissions hotspots, thus providing a viable approach to mitigate GHG emissions from dumpsites.