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Wetland emission and atmospheric sink changes explain methane growth in 2020

Author

Listed:
  • Shushi Peng

    (Peking University
    Peking University
    Peking University)

  • Xin Lin

    (Université Paris-Saclay)

  • Rona L. Thompson

    (Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU))

  • Yi Xi

    (Peking University
    Peking University)

  • Gang Liu

    (Peking University
    Peking University)

  • Didier Hauglustaine

    (Université Paris-Saclay)

  • Xin Lan

    (Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences of University of Colorado
    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

  • Benjamin Poulter

    (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)

  • Michel Ramonet

    (Université Paris-Saclay)

  • Marielle Saunois

    (Université Paris-Saclay)

  • Yi Yin

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • Zhen Zhang

    (University of Maryland)

  • Bo Zheng

    (Tsinghua University
    State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Sources and Control of Air Pollution Complex)

  • Philippe Ciais

    (Université Paris-Saclay
    The Cyprus Institute)

Abstract

Atmospheric methane growth reached an exceptionally high rate of 15.1 ± 0.4 parts per billion per year in 2020 despite a probable decrease in anthropogenic methane emissions during COVID-19 lockdowns1. Here we quantify changes in methane sources and in its atmospheric sink in 2020 compared with 2019. We find that, globally, total anthropogenic emissions decreased by 1.2 ± 0.1 teragrams of methane per year (Tg CH4 yr−1), fire emissions decreased by 6.5 ± 0.1 Tg CH4 yr−1 and wetland emissions increased by 6.0 ± 2.3 Tg CH4 yr−1. Tropospheric OH concentration decreased by 1.6 ± 0.2 per cent relative to 2019, mainly as a result of lower anthropogenic nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and associated lower free tropospheric ozone during pandemic lockdowns2. From atmospheric inversions, we also infer that global net emissions increased by 6.9 ± 2.1 Tg CH4 yr−1 in 2020 relative to 2019, and global methane removal from reaction with OH decreased by 7.5 ± 0.8 Tg CH4 yr−1. Therefore, we attribute the methane growth rate anomaly in 2020 relative to 2019 to lower OH sink (53 ± 10 per cent) and higher natural emissions (47 ± 16 per cent), mostly from wetlands. In line with previous findings3,4, our results imply that wetland methane emissions are sensitive to a warmer and wetter climate and could act as a positive feedback mechanism in the future. Our study also suggests that nitrogen oxide emission trends need to be taken into account when implementing the global anthropogenic methane emissions reduction pledge5.

Suggested Citation

  • Shushi Peng & Xin Lin & Rona L. Thompson & Yi Xi & Gang Liu & Didier Hauglustaine & Xin Lan & Benjamin Poulter & Michel Ramonet & Marielle Saunois & Yi Yin & Zhen Zhang & Bo Zheng & Philippe Ciais, 2022. "Wetland emission and atmospheric sink changes explain methane growth in 2020," Nature, Nature, vol. 612(7940), pages 477-482, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:612:y:2022:i:7940:d:10.1038_s41586-022-05447-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05447-w
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    Cited by:

    1. Mingxu Liu & Yu Song & Hitoshi Matsui & Fang Shang & Ling Kang & Xuhui Cai & Hongsheng Zhang & Tong Zhu, 2024. "Enhanced atmospheric oxidation toward carbon neutrality reduces methane’s climate forcing," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. repec:caa:jnlpse:v:preprint:id:340-2023-pse is not listed on IDEAS

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