"When it comes to global warming, carbon dioxide is the 800-pound gorilla: it’s the most abundant of the long-lived greenhouse gases that human activities generate. But ounce for ounce, methane (CH4) traps more heat, and it accounts for about 20% of the greenhouse gases produced by human activities. Strangely, though, global methane levels “flat lined” from 1999 to 2006.

https://www.climate.gov/sites/default/files/ch4_trend_1980-2017_620.png

Monthly methane concentrations (small circles) since 1983, with the running average as a solid line. NOAA Climate.gov graph, based on data from NOAA ESRL.

The plateau didn’t last, however, and in recent years, global methane levels have been hitting new highs. Figuring out what’s going on with methane is a high priority for carbon cycle experts at NOAA and other institutions around the world.  Possibly the most important clue: air samples collected at different latitudes around the world show that the amount of methane carrying carbon-13—a rare, heavy isotope of carbon—has dropped significantly since 2007."

"The carbon isotope analyses, carried out for NOAA by the Stable Isotope Laboratory at the University of Colorado Boulder's Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, are consistent with an increase in microbial emissions from both natural wetlands and agricultural sources.

Agricultural sources of methane include rice farming and belching from ruminant livestock. Rice farming depends on periodic flooding of growing areas. Drowned soils and animal stomachs favor species of microbes that can survive without oxygen. These microbes respire methane (CH4) instead of carbon dioxide (CO2).

With respect to geography, both sources are plausible. The world’s largest population of ruminant livestock is in India (Northern Hemisphere tropics), and other tropical countries in Africa and South America have large populations as well. Most rice cultivation takes place in the Northern tropics, in India, China, and Southeast Asia. The tropics of both hemispheres are home to the world’s largest wetlands."

https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/after-2000-era-plateau-global-methane-levels-hitting-new-highs

natural wetlands and tropical agriculture. Who woudda thunk.

Proudly brought to you by NOAA.

Looked up nitrous oxide?

No one cares about methane: it turns into co2 anyway!

Eventually. The graph Lees put up shows methane increasing anyway. So the rise isn’t smooth, so what? Weather record is NOISY!

Jovial Monk wrote on Jul 21^st, 2017 at 5:31pm:

Eventually. The graph Lees put up shows methane increasing anyway. So the rise isn’t smooth, so what? Weather record is NOISY!

Basically,... I'm too scared to think about methane!

If we don't get the picture with co2 then we're a lost cause in my opinion: simple as that!

Expedient, but a prudently( relatively speaking of course  ;D) aware stratagem given the potential timing of events in my opinion even if I have To/may say so myself!

;)  :) :)

If thinking about methane causes you to don the brown underpants then DO NOT READ UP ABOUT NITROUS OXIDE, DRAH!

Jovial Monk wrote on Jul 21^st, 2017 at 5:59pm:

If thinking about methane causes you to don the brown underpants then DO NOT READ UP ABOUT NITROUS OXIDE, DRAH!

I might not even ask dad about it if it sounds that heavy!

Compared to N2O, CH4 is a pussycat. Stronger, hangs around for ever. We let that baby get away, forget it.

Jovial Monk wrote on Jul 21^st, 2017 at 6:06pm:

Compared to N2O, CH4 is a pussycat. Stronger, hangs around for ever. We let that baby get away, forget it.

[url]https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/overview-greenhouse-gases#nitrous-oxide[/url]

This article says 40% is made by mankind and there is no way you can reduce that to less than half I would assume. It only makes up 5% of the total ghgs,... and that is about as far as I got in five minutes( because I spent 90 percent of that time dealing with the he remaining ,ultimate spelling checkers guardians of the fake fascistintentnet chat sites parading as democracy  :o)

LOL
Excuses, excuses, excuses...

CH4....  Methane... Natural Gas..
A GHG with 34? times the heat trapping ability of CO2.

Grendel wrote on Jul 21^st, 2017 at 6:20pm:

LOL Excuses, excuses, excuses... CH4....  Methane... Natural Gas.. A GHG with 34? times the heat trapping ability of CO2.

Is Grendel being vague for any particular reason?

:D

We all know the overpaid cfos of this world get paid for walking 'round the boring board room (Iggy pop had a song about that I thinks  8-))like their shite don't stink just like their Nazi dads taught em to!

:D

Wassup....
I've made Methanol and Methane and many other organic chemicals.
Looks to me like you are both clueless about Methane and how it could be affecting the atmosphere and its makeup, etc.

Tropical soils are probably the single most important source of N2O to the atmosphere (Prather et al., 1995), and intensification of tropical agriculture is likely to increase this (Matson & Vitousek, 1990). The current IPCC (1995) estimate for N2O emissions from tropical soils is 4Mt/a (nitrogen), 75% from wet forests soils and 25% from dry savannahs. Temperate soil sources (including forest soils and grasslands) have been estimated at about 2Mt/a. The Earth's oceans are significant sources of N2O. Emissions may be larger than previously estimated (Law & Owen, 1990), accounting for 3Mt/a.

Anthropogenic sources may account for about 40% of total N2O emissions (5.7Mt/a). These include cultivated soils, biomass burning and industrial sources (e.g. nylon production). Total source emissions (natural and anthropogenic) are currently estimated at 14.7Mt/a ( 3.5Mt/a).

http://www.global-climate-change.org.uk/6-4-3-1.php

Natural? From tropical sources? Oceans? Oh dear.

That can't be right.
Mankind is creating matter and putting stuff into the atmosphere that never existed on the planet before.

:D :D :D :D :D

Thought I'd just beat Monk to it for a change. ;D ;D ;D

about 40% not natural.

didn’t mention rising emissions N2O at the poles.

lee wrote on Jul 21^st, 2017 at 6:45pm:

Tropical soils are probably the single most important source of N2O to the atmosphere (Prather et al., 1995), and intensification of tropical agriculture is likely to increase this (Matson & Vitousek, 1990). The current IPCC (1995) estimate for N2O emissions from tropical soils is 4Mt/a (nitrogen), 75% from wet forests soils and 25% from dry savannahs. Temperate soil sources (including forest soils and grasslands) have been estimated at about 2Mt/a. The Earth's oceans are significant sources of N2O. Emissions may be larger than previously estimated (Law & Owen, 1990), accounting for 3Mt/a. Anthropogenic sources may account for about 40% of total N2O emissions (5.7Mt/a). These include cultivated soils, biomass burning and industrial sources (e.g. nylon production). Total source emissions (natural and anthropogenic) are currently estimated at 14.7Mt/a ( 3.5Mt/a). http://www.global-climate-change.org.uk/6-4-3-1.php Natural? From tropical sources? Oceans? Oh dear.

You forgot lee's anus which is a contributor of CH4 and H2S.

Some of the natural sources are emitting or emitting faster because of AGW, perhaps.

E.g. warmer water can hold less solids and gases in solution than cold water.

Grendel wrote on Jul 21^st, 2017 at 6:32pm:

Wassup.... I've made Methanol and Methane and many other organic chemicals. Looks to me like you are both clueless about Methane and how it could be affecting the atmosphere and its makeup, etc.

You're a blowhard!!

Grendel wrote on Jul 21^st, 2017 at 6:54pm:

That can't be right. Mankind is creating matter and putting stuff into the atmosphere that never existed on the planet before. :D :D :D :D :D Thought I'd just beat Monk to it for a change. ;D ;D ;D

Random words for no apparent reason  ::)

Jovial Monk wrote on Jul 21^st, 2017 at 6:54pm:

about 40% not natural. didn’t mention rising emissions N2O at the poles.

Couldn't find a date on lees link!

:P

Methane is a more potent greenhouse gas than CO2 (any gas molecule with more than 2 atoms is a greenhouse gas) but there is simply far less of it in the atmosphere. CO2 is about 400 parts per million. CH4 is less than 2 parts per million. Increases in CH4 are largely due to agriculture which is a human activity.

And polar tundras, as they thaw out.

"NOAA’s Climate.gov Says Natural Wetlands, Tropical Agriculture Responsible For Methane Increases, Not Oil and Gas"

http://westernwire.net/noaas-climate-gov-says-natural-wetlands-tropical-agriculture-responsible-for-methane-increases-not-oil-and-gas/


https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/after-2000-era-plateau-global-methane-levels-hitting-new-highs

Jovial Monk wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2017 at 12:20pm:

And polar tundras, as they thaw out.

LOL...  that is so funny, the irony is you don't even get it. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

The_Barnacle wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2017 at 12:16pm:

Methane is a more potent greenhouse gas than CO2 (any gas molecule with more than 2 atoms is a greenhouse gas) but there is simply far less of it in the atmosphere. CO2 is about 400 parts per million. CH4 is less than 2 parts per million. Increases in CH4 are largely due to agriculture which is a human activity.

I don't know what the data is on methane but I'm sure the change so far is inconsequential. The rate of change is what is important so some type of graph would be good to look at! I suppose the numbers aren't in, basically!