Articles | Volume 23, issue 14
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-8429-2023
© Author(s) 2023. 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-23-8429-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
28 Jul 2023
Research article |
| 28 Jul 2023
| 28 Jul 2023
Atmospheric data support a multi-decadal shift in the global methane budget towards natural tropical emissions
Alice Drinkwater
School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, UK
School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
National Centre for Earth Observation, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
Liang Feng
School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
National Centre for Earth Observation, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
Tim Arnold
National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, UK
School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
Global Monitoring Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, CO, USA
Sylvia E. Michel
Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
Robert Parker
National Centre for Earth Observation, Space Park Leicester, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
Earth Observation Science, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
Hartmut Boesch
National Centre for Earth Observation, Space Park Leicester, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
Earth Observation Science, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
Viewed
Total article views: 7,077 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 02 Sep 2022)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,533 | 1,337 | 207 | 7,077 | 123 | 184 |
- HTML: 5,533
- PDF: 1,337
- XML: 207
- Total: 7,077
- BibTeX: 123
- EndNote: 184
Total article views: 5,091 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 28 Jul 2023)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,133 | 847 | 111 | 5,091 | 106 | 162 |
- HTML: 4,133
- PDF: 847
- XML: 111
- Total: 5,091
- BibTeX: 106
- EndNote: 162
Total article views: 1,986 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 02 Sep 2022)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,400 | 490 | 96 | 1,986 | 17 | 22 |
- HTML: 1,400
- PDF: 490
- XML: 96
- Total: 1,986
- BibTeX: 17
- EndNote: 22
Viewed (geographical distribution)
Total article views: 7,077 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 7,058 with geography defined
and 19 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 5,091 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 5,066 with geography defined
and 25 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 1,986 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 1,986 with geography defined
and 0 with unknown origin.
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
Cited
25 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Slaying the methane minotaur E. Nisbet https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2318019120
- Greenhouse gas column observations from a portable spectrometer in Uganda N. Humpage et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-5679-2024
- Vegetation dynamics and methane emissions: insights from East African wetlands K. Wu et al. https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ae7d9d
- A comprehensive review on methane’s dual role: effects in climate change and potential as a carbon–neutral energy source M. Sobanaa et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-30601-w
- Methane Emissions in the ESG Framework at the World Level A. Costantiello et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/methane4010003
- Methane Recovery from Coalbed Gas by Forming sII Hydrate with the Aid of a Novel Eco-Friendly Promoter L. Mu et al. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.4c04987
- Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Methane Emissions from 2019 Onwards: A Satellite-Based Comparison of High- and Low-Emission Regions E. Wójcik-Gront et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16060670
- CH4 emissions from Northern Europe wetlands: compared data assimilation approaches G. Monteil et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-14251-2025
- Methane emissions decreased in fossil fuel exploitation and sustainably increased in microbial source sectors during 1990–2020 N. Chandra et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01286-x
- Global Methane Budget 2000–2020 M. Saunois et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-17-1873-2025
- Microbial driver of 2006–2023 CH 4 growth indicated by trends in atmospheric δD–CH 4 and δ 13 C–CH 4 B. Riddell-Young et al. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2516543122
- A global dataset of δ13C-CH4 source signatures and associated uncertainties (1998–2022), with a sensitivity analysis to support isotopic inversions E. Tapin et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-4793-2026
- Estimation of seasonal methane fluxes over a Mediterranean rice paddy area using the Radon Tracer Method (RTM) R. Curcoll et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-6299-2025
- Coalbed Biogenic Methane: Insights on the “Blind Spots” in Mitigation of Emissions R. Flores https://doi.org/10.3390/methane5030020
- Can Saharan Dust Intrusions Alter the Isotopic Composition of Atmospheric Methane and Carbon Dioxide? I. Zaccardo et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments13030145
- 2019–2024 trends in African livestock and wetland emissions as contributors to the global methane rise N. Balasus et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-4601-2026
- Inverse modeling of 2010–2022 satellite observations shows that inundation of the wet tropics drove the 2020–2022 methane surge Z. Qu et al. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2402730121
- Jump in Tropospheric Methane Concentrations in 2020–2021 and Slowdown in 2022–2024: New Hypotheses on Causation T. Ming et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16040406
- Long-term and interannual variations of atmospheric methane observed by the NIES and collaborative observation networks T. Umezawa et al. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40645-025-00711-9
- The large role of declining atmospheric sulfate deposition and rising CO 2 concentrations in stimulating future wetland CH 4 emissions L. Shen et al. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adn1056
- Fractionation of Methane Isotopologues during Preparation for Analysis from Ambient Air E. Safi et al. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.3c04891
- Aerobic methane production by phytoplankton as an important methane source of aquatic ecosystems: Reconsidering the global methane budget Y. Mao et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167864
- Trends and seasonality of 2019–2023 global methane emissions inferred from a localized ensemble transform Kalman filter (CHEEREIO v1.3.1) applied to TROPOMI satellite observations D. Pendergrass et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-14353-2025
- Comparative Review of Global Methane Budget Estimation: Top-Down, Bottom-Up, and Integrated Approaches B. Alem et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs18091336
- Trends in atmospheric methane concentrations since 1990 were driven and modified by anthropogenic emissions R. Skeie et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00969-1
25 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Slaying the methane minotaur E. Nisbet https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2318019120
- Greenhouse gas column observations from a portable spectrometer in Uganda N. Humpage et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-5679-2024
- Vegetation dynamics and methane emissions: insights from East African wetlands K. Wu et al. https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ae7d9d
- A comprehensive review on methane’s dual role: effects in climate change and potential as a carbon–neutral energy source M. Sobanaa et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-30601-w
- Methane Emissions in the ESG Framework at the World Level A. Costantiello et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/methane4010003
- Methane Recovery from Coalbed Gas by Forming sII Hydrate with the Aid of a Novel Eco-Friendly Promoter L. Mu et al. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.4c04987
- Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Methane Emissions from 2019 Onwards: A Satellite-Based Comparison of High- and Low-Emission Regions E. Wójcik-Gront et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16060670
- CH4 emissions from Northern Europe wetlands: compared data assimilation approaches G. Monteil et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-14251-2025
- Methane emissions decreased in fossil fuel exploitation and sustainably increased in microbial source sectors during 1990–2020 N. Chandra et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01286-x
- Global Methane Budget 2000–2020 M. Saunois et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-17-1873-2025
- Microbial driver of 2006–2023 CH 4 growth indicated by trends in atmospheric δD–CH 4 and δ 13 C–CH 4 B. Riddell-Young et al. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2516543122
- A global dataset of δ13C-CH4 source signatures and associated uncertainties (1998–2022), with a sensitivity analysis to support isotopic inversions E. Tapin et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-4793-2026
- Estimation of seasonal methane fluxes over a Mediterranean rice paddy area using the Radon Tracer Method (RTM) R. Curcoll et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-6299-2025
- Coalbed Biogenic Methane: Insights on the “Blind Spots” in Mitigation of Emissions R. Flores https://doi.org/10.3390/methane5030020
- Can Saharan Dust Intrusions Alter the Isotopic Composition of Atmospheric Methane and Carbon Dioxide? I. Zaccardo et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments13030145
- 2019–2024 trends in African livestock and wetland emissions as contributors to the global methane rise N. Balasus et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-4601-2026
- Inverse modeling of 2010–2022 satellite observations shows that inundation of the wet tropics drove the 2020–2022 methane surge Z. Qu et al. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2402730121
- Jump in Tropospheric Methane Concentrations in 2020–2021 and Slowdown in 2022–2024: New Hypotheses on Causation T. Ming et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16040406
- Long-term and interannual variations of atmospheric methane observed by the NIES and collaborative observation networks T. Umezawa et al. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40645-025-00711-9
- The large role of declining atmospheric sulfate deposition and rising CO 2 concentrations in stimulating future wetland CH 4 emissions L. Shen et al. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adn1056
- Fractionation of Methane Isotopologues during Preparation for Analysis from Ambient Air E. Safi et al. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.3c04891
- Aerobic methane production by phytoplankton as an important methane source of aquatic ecosystems: Reconsidering the global methane budget Y. Mao et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167864
- Trends and seasonality of 2019–2023 global methane emissions inferred from a localized ensemble transform Kalman filter (CHEEREIO v1.3.1) applied to TROPOMI satellite observations D. Pendergrass et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-14353-2025
- Comparative Review of Global Methane Budget Estimation: Top-Down, Bottom-Up, and Integrated Approaches B. Alem et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs18091336
- Trends in atmospheric methane concentrations since 1990 were driven and modified by anthropogenic emissions R. Skeie et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00969-1
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 26 Jul 2026
Short summary
Changes in atmospheric methane over the last few decades are largely unexplained. Previous studies have proposed different hypotheses to explain short-term changes in atmospheric methane. We interpret observed changes in atmospheric methane and stable isotope source signatures (2004–2020). We argue that changes over this period are part of a large-scale shift from high-northern-latitude thermogenic energy emissions to tropical biogenic emissions, particularly from North Africa and South America.
Changes in atmospheric methane over the last few decades are largely unexplained. Previous...
Altmetrics
Final-revised paper
Preprint