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NOAA: Record increases in atmospheric methane may be evidence of a climate-related feedback loop
Heather Waldman
Meteorologist/Climate Reporter
NOAA: Record increases in atmospheric methane may be evidence of a climate-related feedback loop
AROU TNDO KNOCK DOWN THE FLAMES AND FIREFIGHTERS SAY IT CAN TAKE SEVERAL HOURS TO PUT OUT THESE TYPES OF FIRES. GULSTAN: TRACKING GAS EMISSIONS IS ONE WAY TO -- NOAA RELEASED TRENDS IN THEWO T MOST INFLUENTIAL GREEN HOUSE CASTS IN 2021. ANDR:EA KCRA 3 METEOROLOGIST HEATHER WALDERMAN JOINS US. WHAT DID THE DATA SWSHO YOU. >>> CARBON DIOXIDEND A METHANE, ACCORD TO GO DATA FROM LAST YEAR, BOTH HAVE INCREASED COMPARED TO PREVIOUS YEARS. AND METHANE INCREASED A RECORD AMOUNT FOR THE SECD ONYEAR IN A ROW. METHANE GAS IS A POWERFUL WARMING FEET IN THE ATMOSPHERE? A. IST' ABOUT 25 TIMES MORE POUR FALL THAN CARBON DIOXIDE, BUT METHANE LINGERS IN THE ATMOSPHERE FOR ABOUT A DECADE. CARBON DIOXIDE, SAYS UP THERE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, WHICH LEADS TO A MUCH BIGGER CUMULATIVE WARMING EFFECT. SCIENTISTS WITH NOAA ARE CONCERNEDY B RECENT JUMPS IN METHANE EMISSIONS BECAUSE IT MAY BE EVIDENCE OF A CLIMATE FEED-BACK LP.OO >> -- ACTING ON TOP OF THE LONG-TERM INCREASE, AND THAT'S POSSIBLY RELEDAT TO THE NATALUR REDLINE EMISSION. >>> THE FEEDBACK LOOP IS DRIVEN BRING NATURAL CYCLES, LIKE MORE RAINAL FLING OVER TROPICAL WETLANDS, RELEASING METHANE LOCKED UP IN THOSE REGIONS. NOT MUCH CAN BE DONE TO REVERSE THAT EFFECT, BUT THERE ARE OTHER SOURCES OF METHANE THAT COULBED REDUCED. YES, ONE BIG ONE HAS A BOVINE CONNECTI.ON IT'S REFERRED TO AS, BIOLOGICAL METHE,AN BUT ANOTHER SOURCE IS RCFOE SILL FUELS, WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT 30 -- FOSSIL FUELS, WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR 30% OF METHANE EMISSNSIO >> INE W TRY TO REDUCE THE METHANE EMISSION, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE A DECREASE IN THE VELEL PRETTY QUICKLY IN A FEW YEARS, BUTOU KNOW,. [INDISCERNIBLE] THAT'S NOT ENOUGH, BECAUSEUR O BIGGER PROBLEM IS THE. [INDISCERNIBLE] >>> METHANE GAS IS MRSA. CONTRIBUTO TOR GROUND LEVEL OZONE. A SERIOUS AIR QUALITY HAZARD, ESPECIALLY ON HOT SUNNY DAYS HERE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
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NOAA: Record increases in atmospheric methane may be evidence of a climate-related feedback loop
Heather Waldman
Meteorologist/Climate Reporter
Scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, have been tracking concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide and methane since the 1980s.For the second year in a row, methane gas has increased at a record-high rate compared to the previous year.Methane is one of the most powerful greenhouse gasses, which trap heat and contribute to increasing global temperatures associated with human-caused climate change. Methane's warming effect is 25 times greater than carbon dioxide, yet we hear about the latter more often because of how long it lingers in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide can stay trapped in the air for thousands of years while methane tends to cycle out within a decade.Given that relatively short lifespan, NOAA scientists are concerned that recent record increases in methane are evidence of a climate-related feedback loop.“We think there are some signals that are acting on top of the long-term increase and that’s possibly related to the natural wetland emission,” said Xin Lan, a researcher with NOAA's Global Monitoring Laboratory. Wetlands contain lots of decaying organic matter. That decay process releases methane. Rain can accelerate that release. As the atmosphere warms, it's able to hold more moisture and produce more rain over those wetland areas, leading to more methane release.“And if that is the case, that could indicate something quite concerning, which was the climate feedback that we think that might be happening already,” Lan said.That feedback loop is an example of a naturally-driven cycle that likely can't be altered significantly by human activity or inactivity. But there are other areas where methane releases can be reduced.One big one is the fossil fuel industry. The production of fossil fuels releases methane as a byproduct. That methane is often leaked unintentionally. Scientists estimate that that accounts for about 30% of methane emissions. Methane is also released as a byproduct of digestion from ruminant animals like cows. Research is currently being conducted on dietary changes that could limit those bovine emissions.Watch the video above for the full story.

Scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, have been tracking concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide and methane since the 1980s.

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For the second year in a row, methane gas has increased at a record-high rate compared to the previous year.

Methane is one of the most powerful greenhouse gasses, which trap heat and contribute to increasing global temperatures associated with human-caused climate change.

Methane's warming effect is 25 times greater than carbon dioxide, yet we hear about the latter more often because of how long it lingers in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide can stay trapped in the air for thousands of years while methane tends to cycle out within a decade.

Given that relatively short lifespan, NOAA scientists are concerned that recent record increases in methane are evidence of a climate-related feedback loop.

“We think there are some signals that are acting on top of the long-term increase and that’s possibly related to the natural wetland emission,” said Xin Lan, a researcher with NOAA's Global Monitoring Laboratory.

Wetlands contain lots of decaying organic matter. That decay process releases methane. Rain can accelerate that release. As the atmosphere warms, it's able to hold more moisture and produce more rain over those wetland areas, leading to more methane release.

“And if that is the case, that could indicate something quite concerning, which was the climate feedback that we think that might be happening already,” Lan said.

That feedback loop is an example of a naturally-driven cycle that likely can't be altered significantly by human activity or inactivity. But there are other areas where methane releases can be reduced.

One big one is the fossil fuel industry. The production of fossil fuels releases methane as a byproduct. That methane is often leaked unintentionally. Scientists estimate that that accounts for about 30% of methane emissions.

Methane is also released as a byproduct of digestion from ruminant animals like cows. Research is currently being conducted on dietary changes that could limit those bovine emissions.

Watch the video above for the full story.