Emissions of Key Greenhouse Gas Stabilize

brian0918 writes "Multiple news sites are reporting that levels of the second most important greenhouse gas, methane, have stabilized". From Scientific American: "During the two decades of measurements, methane underwent double-digit growth as a constituent of our atmosphere, rising from 1,520 parts per billion by volume (ppbv) in 1978 to 1,767 ppbv in 1998. But the most recent measurements have revealed that methane levels are barely rising anymore — and it is unclear why." From NewScientist: "Although this is good news, it does not mean that methane levels will not rise again, and that carbon dioxide remains the 800-pound gorilla of climate change."

Comments

Water Vapor?

[Erioll]

What about Water Vapor (or vapour, depending on where you live)? I've heard that's a major contributor... though the talk you hear about it is... a heated discussion at the very least (flamefests usually).

Re:Wait a minute...

[jpardey]

Actually, no. Our knowledge is complete. Visit the Creationism Museum to learn more.

Arctic

[edwardpickman]

The real 800lb gorilla for methane is the Arctic. If the predictions are right then this is the calm before the storm. If the Arctic melts, which it is, it'll release vast amounts of methane. It's likely to dwarf all other greenhouse sources. Everyone seems to be ignoring the Arctic but all the CO2 sources combined can't compare so a melting Arctic should be our primary concern. If it's the canary then the canary isn't just dead but it has been reduced to a skeleton.

Re:Arctic

[DigitalRaptor]

Not real familiar with satellite imagery, are you?

The ice that is there may come and go (freeze and thaw) with the seasons, but it is indisputable that there is a hell of a lot more going than there is coming back.

Satellite imagery from the 70's to now is shocking and disappointing, even bordering on the scary (beyond scary, I think).

Re:Arctic

[DigitalRaptor]

I don't know enough about which ice is over the ocean and which is over land, but much of it is over land.

Much of that land is comprised of old peat bogs and other partially decomposed plant life.

As it is exposed and thaws it releases huge amounts of methane. This has already been observed and written about at length.

IIRC it's one of the greatest potential contributors to the "tipping point".

Re:Arctic

[TapeCutter]

"Get your stories straight or don't post..misinformation doesn't benefit anyone"

Not sure what your point is here since the GP didn't mention Anatartica, Arctic ice comes from the Arctic (north), Antartic ice comes from Antartica (south). Since the mid 1950's the Arctic ice cap has lost ~60% of it's volume (although one "skeptic" belives the missing ice is hiding behind Canada somewhere).

There has been very little change in the volume of the Antartic ice cap, however both the Antartic penninsula and Greenland have experinced a +3C rise in average tempratures compared to the +1C global average (accurately predicted by climate models I might add).

Re:Wait a minute...

[Durrok]

I see you are new to humor...

Let me get this straight

[Kohath]

Ok, let me get this straight.

The methane gas was coming from an 800-pound gorilla?

Re:CO2

[toolazytothink]

But in fact, human behaviour does not seem to be changing water vapour concentrations in the atmosphere, while as many many scientists have observed, rising concentrations of CO2 (which seem to be linked to rising levels of development, and energy production and use) are proportional to temperature increases. Water is a much more complicated greenhouse gas because it goes into the atmosphere easily, but it also comes out easily. CO2, on the other hand does not leave the atmosphere easily, and it is having a measurable effect on our climate.

Re:I wonder if this has to do with BSE

[Qzukk]

They're not a major source of methane in the atmosphere OR their crap puts off a ton of methane and we should use it as fuel?

Or their crap has no methane and yet can still be used for fuel (your dichotomy is false).

Anyway, http://www.ciesin.org/TG/AG/liverear.html claims that livestock causes 15 of all organic-sourced methane "emissions". Mostly due to fermentation in their stomachs, mostly from low quality feed.