Articles | Volume 22, issue 23
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-15351-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-15351-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| Highlight paper
| 
05 Dec 2022
Research article | Highlight paper |
| 05 Dec 2022
| 05 Dec 2022
Estimating emissions of methane consistent with atmospheric measurements of methane and δ13C of methane
Global Modeling and Assimilation Office, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt MD, USA
Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park MD, USA
Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Science, University of Colorado, Boulder CO, USA
Global Monitoring Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder CO, USA
Edward Dlugokencky
Global Monitoring Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder CO, USA
Sylvia Michel
Institute for Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder CO, USA
Stefan Schwietzke
Environmental Defense Fund, Berlin, Germany
John B. Miller
Global Monitoring Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder CO, USA
Lori Bruhwiler
Global Monitoring Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder CO, USA
Youmi Oh
Global Monitoring Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder CO, USA
Pieter P. Tans
Global Monitoring Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder CO, USA
Francesco Apadula
Ricerca sul Sistema Energetico (RSE S.p.A.), Milan, Italy
Luciana V. Gatti
Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais, São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil
Armin Jordan
Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, Germany
Jaroslaw Necki
AGH University of Science and Technology, Krakow, Poland
Motoki Sasakawa
National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, Japan
Shinji Morimoto
Center for Atmospheric and Oceanic Studies, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
Tatiana Di Iorio
Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy, and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Rome, Italy
Haeyoung Lee
National Institute of Meteorological Sciences, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, Korea
Jgor Arduini
Università degli Studi di Urbino, Urbino, Italy
Giovanni Manca
European Commission, Joint Research Center, Ispra, Italy
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- Ensemble estimates of global wetland methane emissions over 2000–2020 Z. Zhang et al. 10.5194/bg-22-305-2025
- Hotspot Analysis of Rumen Microbiota and Methane Mitigation in Ruminants: A Bibliometric Analysis from 1998 to 2023 X. Zheng et al. 10.3390/ani15050681
- Future CH4 as modelled by a fully coupled Earth system model: prescribed GHG concentrations vs. interactive CH4 sources and sinks U. Im et al. 10.1088/2752-5295/adb3c0
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- Use of Assimilation Analysis in 4D-Var Source Inversion: Observing System Simulation Experiments (OSSEs) with GOSAT Methane and Hemispheric CMAQ S. Voshtani et al. 10.3390/atmos14040758
- Methane emissions decreased in fossil fuel exploitation and sustainably increased in microbial source sectors during 1990–2020 N. Chandra et al. 10.1038/s43247-024-01286-x
- Investigation of the renewed methane growth post-2007 with high-resolution 3-D variational inverse modeling and isotopic constraints J. Thanwerdas et al. 10.5194/acp-24-2129-2024
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- Indicators of Global Climate Change 2023: annual update of key indicators of the state of the climate system and human influence P. Forster et al. 10.5194/essd-16-2625-2024
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- Partitioning anthropogenic and natural methane emissions in Finland during 2000–2021 by combining bottom-up and top-down estimates M. Tenkanen et al. 10.5194/acp-25-2181-2025
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- Clumped isotope measurements reveal aerobic oxidation of methane below the Greenland ice sheet G. Adnew et al. 10.1016/j.gca.2024.11.009
- In search of better models for explaining atmospheric methane accumulation P. Ederer & T. Iliushyk 10.1093/af/vfaf001
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- A global review of methane policies reveals that only 13% of emissions are covered with unclear effectiveness M. Olczak et al. 10.1016/j.oneear.2023.04.009
- The large role of declining atmospheric sulfate deposition and rising CO 2 concentrations in stimulating future wetland CH 4 emissions L. Shen et al. 10.1126/sciadv.adn1056
- Inverse modeling of 2010–2022 satellite observations shows that inundation of the wet tropics drove the 2020–2022 methane surge Z. Qu et al. 10.1073/pnas.2402730121
- Indicators of Global Climate Change 2022: annual update of large-scale indicators of the state of the climate system and human influence P. Forster et al. 10.5194/essd-15-2295-2023
- Tracing sources of atmospheric methane using clumped isotopes M. Haghnegahdar et al. 10.1073/pnas.2305574120
- Fractionation of Methane Isotopologues during Preparation for Analysis from Ambient Air E. Safi et al. 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c04891
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- Isolation of Methane from Ambient Water and Preparation for Source-Diagnostic Natural Abundance Radiocarbon Analysis M. Brussee et al. 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c03525
- Mitigating methane emissions and promoting acetogenesis in ruminant livestock R. Mrutu et al. 10.3389/fanim.2025.1489212
- Impact of land conversion on environmental conditions and methane emissions from a tropical peatland G. Wong et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178466
- Bottom‐Up Evaluation of the Methane Budget in Asia and Its Subregions A. Ito et al. 10.1029/2023GB007723
- Atmospheric Methane: Comparison Between Methane's Record in 2006–2022 and During Glacial Terminations E. Nisbet et al. 10.1029/2023GB007875
- African rice cultivation linked to rising methane Z. Chen et al. 10.1038/s41558-023-01907-x
- Atmospheric data support a multi-decadal shift in the global methane budget towards natural tropical emissions A. Drinkwater et al. 10.5194/acp-23-8429-2023
- Estimating Methane Emissions from Mexican Wetlands with Multiple Earth System Models F. Murguía-Flores & V. Jaramillo 10.1007/s13157-024-01884-7
- The environmental trade-offs of applying soil amendments: Microbial biomass and greenhouse gas emission dynamics in organic rice paddy soils H. Lasar et al. 10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.105977
- Global Atmospheric δ13CH4 and CH4 Trends for 2000–2020 from the Atmospheric Transport Model TM5 Using CH4 from Carbon Tracker Europe–CH4 Inversions V. Mannisenaho et al. 10.3390/atmos14071121
- Assessment of methane emissions from oil, gas and coal sectors across inventories and atmospheric inversions K. Tibrewal et al. 10.1038/s43247-023-01190-w
- Challenges and opportunities in the global methane cycle S. Peng 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106878
46 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Recent intensification of wetland methane feedback Z. Zhang et al. 10.1038/s41558-023-01629-0
- Implementation of a satellite-based tool for the quantification of CH4 emissions over Europe (AUMIA v1.0) – Part 1: forward modelling evaluation against near-surface and satellite data A. Vara-Vela et al. 10.5194/gmd-16-6413-2023
- Ensemble estimates of global wetland methane emissions over 2000–2020 Z. Zhang et al. 10.5194/bg-22-305-2025
- Hotspot Analysis of Rumen Microbiota and Methane Mitigation in Ruminants: A Bibliometric Analysis from 1998 to 2023 X. Zheng et al. 10.3390/ani15050681
- Future CH4 as modelled by a fully coupled Earth system model: prescribed GHG concentrations vs. interactive CH4 sources and sinks U. Im et al. 10.1088/2752-5295/adb3c0
- Climate feedback on methane from wetlands E. Nisbet 10.1038/s41558-023-01634-3
- Improved Gaussian regression model for retrieving ground methane levels by considering vertical profile features H. He et al. 10.3389/feart.2024.1352498
- Zonal variability of methane trends derived from satellite data J. Hachmeister et al. 10.5194/acp-24-577-2024
- Monitoring Methane Concentrations with High Spatial Resolution over China by Using Random Forest Model Z. Jin et al. 10.3390/rs16142525
- Clean air policy makes methane harder to control due to longer lifetime B. Fu et al. 10.1016/j.oneear.2024.06.010
- Use of Assimilation Analysis in 4D-Var Source Inversion: Observing System Simulation Experiments (OSSEs) with GOSAT Methane and Hemispheric CMAQ S. Voshtani et al. 10.3390/atmos14040758
- Methane emissions decreased in fossil fuel exploitation and sustainably increased in microbial source sectors during 1990–2020 N. Chandra et al. 10.1038/s43247-024-01286-x
- Investigation of the renewed methane growth post-2007 with high-resolution 3-D variational inverse modeling and isotopic constraints J. Thanwerdas et al. 10.5194/acp-24-2129-2024
- Wetland hydrological dynamics and methane emissions S. Cui et al. 10.1038/s43247-024-01635-w
- Measurement report: Atmospheric CH4 at regional stations of the Korea Meteorological Administration–Global Atmosphere Watch Programme: measurement, characteristics, and long-term changes of its drivers H. Lee et al. 10.5194/acp-23-7141-2023
- Indicators of Global Climate Change 2023: annual update of key indicators of the state of the climate system and human influence P. Forster et al. 10.5194/essd-16-2625-2024
- Atmospheric methane isotopes identify inventory knowledge gaps in the Surat Basin, Australia, coal seam gas and agricultural regions B. Kelly et al. 10.5194/acp-22-15527-2022
- Atmospheric constraints on changing Arctic CH4 emissions X. Lan & E. Dlugokencky 10.3389/fenvs.2024.1382621
- Comparison of observation- and inventory-based methane emissions for eight large global emitters A. Petrescu et al. 10.5194/essd-16-4325-2024
- Partitioning anthropogenic and natural methane emissions in Finland during 2000–2021 by combining bottom-up and top-down estimates M. Tenkanen et al. 10.5194/acp-25-2181-2025
- High-sensitive double incidence multi-pass cell for trace gas detection based on TDLAS Y. Shi et al. 10.1016/j.snb.2024.135829
- Source apportionment of methane emissions from the Upper Silesian Coal Basin using isotopic signatures A. Fiehn et al. 10.5194/acp-23-15749-2023
- The use of δ 13C in CO to determine removal of CH4 by Cl radicals in the atmosphere * T. Röckmann et al. 10.1088/1748-9326/ad4375
- Clumped isotope measurements reveal aerobic oxidation of methane below the Greenland ice sheet G. Adnew et al. 10.1016/j.gca.2024.11.009
- In search of better models for explaining atmospheric methane accumulation P. Ederer & T. Iliushyk 10.1093/af/vfaf001
- Atmospheric methane variability through the Last Glacial Maximum and deglaciation mainly controlled by tropical sources B. Riddell-Young et al. 10.1038/s41561-023-01332-x
- A global review of methane policies reveals that only 13% of emissions are covered with unclear effectiveness M. Olczak et al. 10.1016/j.oneear.2023.04.009
- The large role of declining atmospheric sulfate deposition and rising CO 2 concentrations in stimulating future wetland CH 4 emissions L. Shen et al. 10.1126/sciadv.adn1056
- Inverse modeling of 2010–2022 satellite observations shows that inundation of the wet tropics drove the 2020–2022 methane surge Z. Qu et al. 10.1073/pnas.2402730121
- Indicators of Global Climate Change 2022: annual update of large-scale indicators of the state of the climate system and human influence P. Forster et al. 10.5194/essd-15-2295-2023
- Tracing sources of atmospheric methane using clumped isotopes M. Haghnegahdar et al. 10.1073/pnas.2305574120
- Fractionation of Methane Isotopologues during Preparation for Analysis from Ambient Air E. Safi et al. 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c04891
- Slaying the methane minotaur E. Nisbet 10.1073/pnas.2318019120
- Evaluation of Data Processing Strategies for Methane Isotopic Signatures Determined During Near-Source Measurements S. Defratyka et al. 10.16993/tellusb.1878
- Isolation of Methane from Ambient Water and Preparation for Source-Diagnostic Natural Abundance Radiocarbon Analysis M. Brussee et al. 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c03525
- Mitigating methane emissions and promoting acetogenesis in ruminant livestock R. Mrutu et al. 10.3389/fanim.2025.1489212
- Impact of land conversion on environmental conditions and methane emissions from a tropical peatland G. Wong et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178466
- Bottom‐Up Evaluation of the Methane Budget in Asia and Its Subregions A. Ito et al. 10.1029/2023GB007723
- Atmospheric Methane: Comparison Between Methane's Record in 2006–2022 and During Glacial Terminations E. Nisbet et al. 10.1029/2023GB007875
- African rice cultivation linked to rising methane Z. Chen et al. 10.1038/s41558-023-01907-x
- Atmospheric data support a multi-decadal shift in the global methane budget towards natural tropical emissions A. Drinkwater et al. 10.5194/acp-23-8429-2023
- Estimating Methane Emissions from Mexican Wetlands with Multiple Earth System Models F. Murguía-Flores & V. Jaramillo 10.1007/s13157-024-01884-7
- The environmental trade-offs of applying soil amendments: Microbial biomass and greenhouse gas emission dynamics in organic rice paddy soils H. Lasar et al. 10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.105977
- Global Atmospheric δ13CH4 and CH4 Trends for 2000–2020 from the Atmospheric Transport Model TM5 Using CH4 from Carbon Tracker Europe–CH4 Inversions V. Mannisenaho et al. 10.3390/atmos14071121
- Assessment of methane emissions from oil, gas and coal sectors across inventories and atmospheric inversions K. Tibrewal et al. 10.1038/s43247-023-01190-w
- Challenges and opportunities in the global methane cycle S. Peng 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106878
Latest update: 11 May 2025
Executive editor
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas and an important sink of atmospheric OH radicals, which determine the global atmospheric oxidation capacity. CH4 has increased since pre-industrial times until the year 2000, after which its global concentration has remained relatively stable. Since 2007, it is rapidly increasing again for reasons that are not well understood. The current paper analyses source specific methane emissions that are likely responsible for the recent increase. Global CH4 sources are determined using variational inversion based on measurements of methane and its isotope signatures (δ13C). This latter provide better constraints on the contributions of microbial and fossil fuel CH4 sources than the concentrations alone. The analysis points to a more strongly increasing contribution of microbial sources since 2007 than predicted by previous assessments (Global Carbon Project). These findings have the potential to lead to a major reassessment of the global methane budget.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas and an important sink of atmospheric OH radicals, which...
Short summary
Atmospheric methane (CH4) has been growing steadily since 2007 for reasons that are not well understood. Here we determine sources of methane using a technique informed by atmospheric measurements of CH4 and its isotopologue 13CH4. Measurements of 13CH4 provide for better separation of microbial, fossil, and fire sources of methane than CH4 measurements alone. Compared to previous assessments such as the Global Carbon Project, we find a larger microbial contribution to the post-2007 increase.
Atmospheric methane (CH4) has been growing steadily since 2007 for reasons that are not well...
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