Methane Levels Reach an All-Time High - Scientific American

Methane Levels Reach an All-Time High - Scientific American



Methane gas flare and pump jack at an oil well in North Dakota (Richard Hamilton Smith/Getty)

Atmospheric methane reaches all-time high

The concentration of methane in the atmosphere has reached an all-time high. Data from a network of sampling stations operated by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) show concentrations of the potent greenhouse gas are rising, with an accelerating rate of increase. Methane comes from natural sources, such as wetlands, and from human activities, including oil and gas extraction and livestock farming. “Here we are. It’s 2020, and it’s not only not dropping. It’s not level. In fact, it’s one of the fastest growth rates we’ve seen in the last 20 years,” says climate scientist Drew Shindell.

Scientific American | 4 min read
Read more: Methane leaks from US gas fields dwarf government estimates (Nature, from 2018)Reference: NOAA report