biostudies-literatureZhang ZChinese Academy of SciencesScientific Research and Technology Development Program of GuangxiEnvironmental Restoration and Conservation Agency of JapanGordon and Betty Moore Foundationnwab200https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9084358biostudies-literatureUnknown9(5)Atmospheric methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) concentrations have shown a puzzling resumption in growth since 2007 following a period of stabilization from 2000 to 2006. Multiple hypotheses have been proposed to explain the temporal variations in CH<sub>4</sub> growth, and attribute the rise of atmospheric CH<sub>4</sub> either to increases in emissions from fossil fuel activities, agriculture and natural wetlands, or to a decrease in the atmospheric chemical sink. Here, we use a comprehensive ensemble of CH<sub>4</sub> source estimates and isotopic δ<sup>13</sup>C-CH<sub>4</sub> source signature data to show that the resumption of CH<sub>4</sub> growth is most likely due to increased anthropogenic emissions. Our emission scenarios that have the fewest biases with respect to isotopic composition suNational science reviewAnthropogenic emission is the main contributor to the rise of atmospheric methane during 1993-2017.PMC9084358XDA19040504JPMEERF20182002XDA19070204GBMF5439Feinberg AKnox SSaunois MHuang CGanesan AStavert AHurtt GFluet-Chouinard EChatterjee ABousquet PHugelius GZhao YLi XZhang ZMcNicol GPoulter BPatra PKJackson RBHoglund-Isaksson LCanadell JGfalseAnthropogenic emission is the main contributor to the rise of atmospheric methane during 1993-2017.Atmospheric methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) concentrations have shown a puzzling resumption in growth since 2007 following a period of stabilization from 2000 to 2006. Multiple hypotheses have been proposed to explain the temporal variations in CH<sub>4</sub> growth, and attribute the rise of atmospheric CH<sub>4</sub> either to increases in emissions from fossil fuel activities, agriculture and natural wetlands, or to a decrease in the atmospheric chemical sink. Here, we use a comprehensive ensemble of CH<sub>4</sub> source estimates and isotopic δ<sup>13</sup>C-CH<sub>4</sub> source signature data to show that the resumption of CH<sub>4</sub> growth is most likely due to increased anthropogenic emissions. Our emission scenarios that have the fewest biases with respect to isotopic composition su2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 May2025-04-19T21:43:56.871Z2022-07-09T15:52:19.885ZS-EPMC90843583554795810.1093/nsr/nwab200