Atmospheric data support a multi-decadal shift in the global methane budget towards natural tropical emissions

Abstract 4) emissions and the corresponding stable-carbon-isotope source signatures from 2004–2020 across the globe using in situ and satellite remote sensing data. We use the Siegel estimator to determine linear trends from the in situ data. Over our 17-year study period, we estimate a linear increase of 3.6 Tg yr- 1 - 1 4 emissions from tropical continental regions, including North Africa, southern Africa, tropical South America, and tropical Asia. The second-largest increase in CH4 emissions over this period (1.6 Tg yr- 1 - 1 - - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 4 emissions are accompanied by a progressively isotopically lighter atmospheric δ 13 δ 13 4 that are consistent with the location and seasonal timing of wetland emissions. The collective evidence suggests that increases in tropical CH4 emissions are from biogenic sources, with a significant fraction from wetlands. To understand the influence of our results on changes in the hydroxyl radical (OH), we also report regional CH4 emissions estimates using an alternative scenario of a 0.5 % yr- 1 4 in 2020 is inconsistent with independent global-scale constraints for the estimated annual-mean atmospheric growth rate.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Atmospheric data support a multi-decadal shift in the global methane budget towards natural tropical emissions ; volume:23 ; number:14 ; year:2023 ; pages:8429-8452 ; extent:24 ; Atmospheric chemistry and physics ; 23, Heft 14 (2023), 8429-8452 (gesamt 24)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Drinkwater, Alice ; Palmer, Paul ; Feng, Liang ; Arnold, Tim ; Lan, Xin ; Michel, Sylvia E. ; Parker, Robert ; Boesch, Hartmut

Further information

• DOI: 10.5194/acp-23-8429-2023
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2023080304313334122884
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 14.08.2025, 10:56 AM CEST