1944-8007/asset/olbannerleft.jpg?v=1&s=8efe58b4bccbbac51c9740677fc27dec62622c0b)
1944-8007/asset/olbannerright.jpg?v=1&s=4147b7adc92f6020ebf1ced4d118944fcf4a9a0b)
Atmospheric Science
Observational constraints on recent increases in the atmospheric CH4 burden
Article first published online: 17 SEP 2009
DOI: 10.1029/2009GL039780
Copyright 2009 by the American Geophysical Union.
Additional Information
How to Cite
, et al. (2009), Observational constraints on recent increases in the atmospheric CH4 burden, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L18803, doi:10.1029/2009GL039780.
Publication History
- Issue published online: 17 SEP 2009
- Article first published online: 17 SEP 2009
- Manuscript Accepted: 18 AUG 2009
- Manuscript Revised: 11 AUG 2009
- Manuscript Received: 6 JUL 2009
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- methane;
- climate
[1] Measurements of atmospheric CH4 from air samples collected weekly at 46 remote surface sites show that, after a decade of near-zero growth, globally averaged atmospheric methane increased during 2007 and 2008. During 2007, CH4 increased by 8.3 ± 0.6 ppb. CH4 mole fractions averaged over polar northern latitudes and the Southern Hemisphere increased more than other zonally averaged regions. In 2008, globally averaged CH4 increased by 4.4 ± 0.6 ppb; the largest increase was in the tropics, while polar northern latitudes did not increase. Satellite and in situ CO observations suggest only a minor contribution to increased CH4 from biomass burning. The most likely drivers of the CH4 anomalies observed during 2007 and 2008 are anomalously high temperatures in the Arctic and greater than average precipitation in the tropics. Near-zero CH4 growth in the Arctic during 2008 suggests we have not yet activated strong climate feedbacks from permafrost and CH4 hydrates.