Atmospheric methane is methane present in Earth’s atmosphere. It is of interest because methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere. Atmospheric methane has risen dramatically in the last decade and is viewed as a major contributor to global warming.
The global warming potential of methane is significantly higher than CO2. In the near term, over 20 years, methane traps 84 times more heat in the atmosphere than CO2. Global methane concentrations rose from 722 parts per billion (ppb) in pre-industrial times to 1879 ppb by 2020 to its highest value in 800,000 years.
Methane emits from a variety of sources including agricultural activities, waste management, wetlands, and fossil fuel production. Capturing methane emissions from human activity and creating a renewable fuel can play an important role in combating global warming and climate change.
