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Continuing decline in the growth rate of the atmospheric methane burden

Author

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  • E. J. Dlugokencky

    (NOAA Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory)

  • K. A. Masarie

    (NOAA Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory
    Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado)

  • P. M. Lang

    (NOAA Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory)

  • P. P. Tans

    (NOAA Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory)

Abstract

The global atmospheric methane burden has more than doubled since pre-industrial times1,2, and this increase is responsible for about 20% of the estimated change in direct radiative forcing due to anthropogenic greenhouse-gas emissions. Research into future climate change and the development of remedial environmental policies therefore require a reliable assessment of the long-term growth rate in the atmospheric methane load. Measurements have revealed that although the global atmospheric methane burden continues to increase2 with significant interannual variability3,4, the overall rate of increase has slowed2,5. Here we present an analysis of methane measurements from a global air sampling network that suggests that, assuming constant OH concentration, global annual methane emissions have remained nearly constant during the period 1984–96, and that the decreasing growth rate in atmospheric methane reflects the approach to a steady state on a timescale comparable to methane's atmospheric lifetime. If the global methane sources and OH concentration continue to remain constant, we expect average methane mixing ratios to increase slowly from today's 1,730 nmol mol−1 to ∼1,800 nmol mol−1, with little change in the contribution of methane to the greenhouse effect.

Suggested Citation

  • E. J. Dlugokencky & K. A. Masarie & P. M. Lang & P. P. Tans, 1998. "Continuing decline in the growth rate of the atmospheric methane burden," Nature, Nature, vol. 393(6684), pages 447-450, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:393:y:1998:i:6684:d:10.1038_30934
    DOI: 10.1038/30934
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    Cited by:

    1. Ivan Lima & Fernando Ramos & Luis Bambace & Reinaldo Rosa, 2008. "Methane Emissions from Large Dams as Renewable Energy Resources: A Developing Nation Perspective," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 13(2), pages 193-206, February.
    2. Ramachandra, T.V. & Aithal, Bharath H. & Sreejith, K., 2015. "GHG footprint of major cities in India," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 473-495.
    3. Ken Gregory, 1998. "Factors Affecting Future Emissions of Methane from Non Land Use Sources," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 3(2), pages 321-341, December.
    4. Chin-Hsien Cheng & Simon A. T. Redfern, 2022. "Impact of interannual and multidecadal trends on methane-climate feedbacks and sensitivity," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.

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