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Atmospheric Methane: Trends and Impacts

  • Chapter
Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gases: Scientific Understanding, Control and Implementation

Abstract

The concentration of methane (CH4), the most abundant organic trace gas in the atmosphere, has increased dramatically over the last few centuries, more than doubling its concentration. Increasing concentrations of methane are of special concern because of their effects on climate and atmospheric chemistry. On a per molecule basis, additional methane is much more effective as a greenhouse gas than additional CO2. Methane is also important to both tropospheric and stratospheric chemistry. Here, we examine past trends in the concentration of methane, the sources and sinks affecting its growth rate, and the factors that could affect its growth rate in the future. This study also examines the current understanding of the effects of methane on atmospheric chemistry and climate.

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  1. Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA

    Donald J. Wuebbles & Katharine Hayhoe

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  1. Energy Research and Process Innovation, TNO Institute of Environmental Sciences, Delft, The Netherlands

    J. van Ham

  2. Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, De Bilt, The Netherlands

    A. P. M. Baede

  3. Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment, The Hague, The Netherlands

    L. A. Meyer

  4. ECN Netherlands Energy Research Foundation, Petten, The Netherlands

    R. Ybema

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Wuebbles, D.J., Hayhoe, K. (2000). Atmospheric Methane: Trends and Impacts. In: van Ham, J., Baede, A.P.M., Meyer, L.A., Ybema, R. (eds) Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gases: Scientific Understanding, Control and Implementation. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9343-4_1

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