A 21st-century shift from fossil-fuel to biogenic methane emissions indicated by 13CH4.

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Title:	A 21st-century shift from fossil-fuel to biogenic methane emissions indicated by ¹³CH4.
Authors:	Schaefer, Hinrich, Fletcher, Sara E. Mikaloff, Veidt, Cordelia, Lassey, Keith R., Brailsford, Gordon W., Bromley, Tony M., Dlugokencky, Edward J., Michel, Sylvia E., Miller, John B., Levin, Ingeborg, Lowe, Dave C., Martin, Ross J., Vaughn, Bruce H., White, James W. C.
Source:	Science (pre-March 2025). 4/1/2016, Vol. 352 Issue 6281, p80-84. 5p.
Subjects:	Atmospheric methane, Atmospheric chemistry, Fossil fuels, Emissions (Air pollution), Air pollution
Abstract:	Between 1999 and 2006, a plateau interrupted the otherwise continuous increase of atmospheric methane concentration [CH4] since preindustrial times. Causes could be sink variability or a temporary reduction in industrial or climate-sensitive sources. We reconstructed the global history of [CH4] and its stable carbon isotopes from ice cores, archived air, and a global network of monitoring stations. A box-model analysis suggests that diminishing thermogenic emissions, probably from the fossil-fuel industry, and/or variations in the hydroxyl CH4 sink caused the [CH4] plateau. Thermogenic emissions did not resume to cause the renewed [CH4] rise after 2006, which contradicts emission inventories. Post-2006 source increases are predominantly biogenic, outside the Arctic, and arguably more consistent with agriculture than wetlands. If so, mitigating CH4 emissions must be balanced with the need for food production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
	Copyright of Science (pre-March 2025) is the property of American Association for the Advancement of Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database:	Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection

Description
Abstract:	Between 1999 and 2006, a plateau interrupted the otherwise continuous increase of atmospheric methane concentration [CH4] since preindustrial times. Causes could be sink variability or a temporary reduction in industrial or climate-sensitive sources. We reconstructed the global history of [CH4] and its stable carbon isotopes from ice cores, archived air, and a global network of monitoring stations. A box-model analysis suggests that diminishing thermogenic emissions, probably from the fossil-fuel industry, and/or variations in the hydroxyl CH4 sink caused the [CH4] plateau. Thermogenic emissions did not resume to cause the renewed [CH4] rise after 2006, which contradicts emission inventories. Post-2006 source increases are predominantly biogenic, outside the Arctic, and arguably more consistent with agriculture than wetlands. If so, mitigating CH4 emissions must be balanced with the need for food production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	00368075
DOI:	10.1126/science.aad2705