This study shows difficulties in interpreting columnar dry-air mole fractions of methane (XCH₄) for surface emissions of CH₄ over the South Asia region, without separating the role of chemistry and transport. Using a chemistry-transport model, we suggest that a link between surface emissions and higher levels of XCH₄ is not always valid in this region of complex monsoonal meteorology, although there is often a fair correlation between the seasonal variations in surface emissions and XCH₄.