Microbial driver of 2006-2023 CH₄ growth indicated by trends in atmospheric δD-CH₄ and δ¹³C-CH₄.

ABSTRACT: Methane (CH₄) is the second most important greenhouse gas and has been rising following a brief period of stabilization from 1999 to 2006. Determining the cause of this rise is critical for reducing emissions and predicting future climate sensitivity. The carbon and hydrogen stable isotopic composition of atmospheric CH₄ is controlled by variability in isotopically distinguishable emission categories and fractionating sink processes. While most studies using atmospheric δ¹³C-CH₄ data suggest a dominantly microbial source for recent CH₄ growth, this understanding is not uniform, and uncertainties remain [S. Schwietzke et al., Nature 538, 88-91 (2016), S. Basu et al., Atmos. Chem. Phys. 22

SUBMITTER: Riddell-Young B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12718332 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature