Articles | Volume 16, issue 5
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-3227-2016
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-3227-2016
Research article
 | 
11 Mar 2016
Research article |  | 11 Mar 2016

Contribution of oil and natural gas production to renewed increase in atmospheric methane (2007–2014): top–down estimate from ethane and methane column observations

Petra Hausmann, Ralf Sussmann, and Dan Smale

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Cited articles

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Short summary
After a period of stagnation, atmospheric methane started to rise again in 2007. The main drivers are assumed to be increased wetland emissions and fossil fuel production. Here, we quantify the oil and natural gas emission contribution. Our estimate is inferred from ground-based column observations of methane and ethane. We find a significant oil-gas contribution of at least 39% (18%, 73%) in three emission scenarios, calling for emission reduction strategies in growing oil and gas industries.
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