Selected Meteorological Factors Influencing Gas Emissions from an Abandoned Coal Mine Shaft—Results of In Situ Measurements

With climate change, more intense weather events are observed, including pressure drops associated with the arrival of atmospheric fronts. These pressure drops are the primary cause of gas emissions from closed mines to the surface, with inactive mine shafts serving as the most likely emission pathways. The most significant emitted gases are carbon dioxide and methane, posing a dual challenge: greenhouse gas emissions and gas-related hazards. This study analyses changes in gas emission intensity in response to short-term (hourly) pressure fluctuations. Additionally, it presents the results of gas emission measurements from an inactive shaft, considering the impact of temperature differences between the air and emitted gases. The findings indicate that gas emissions are subject to inertia, which is crucial for gas monitoring around mine shafts, as emissions may still occur in the early stages of a pressure increase. Furthermore, the results show that temperature differences between the atmosphere and emitted gases could have a major influence on the process.