Methane and Global Warming

Even though we have the tendency of relating global warming directly to the amount of carbon dioxide released in the atmosphere, the fact is that other greenhouse gases are equally responsible for this hazardous phenomenon. Among the other greenhouse gases which are responsible for global warming, one of the most prominent gas is methane. Global warming effects on Earth are becoming more and more obvious, and scientists are trying their best to come up with proper explanations for the same. A recent study at NASA revealed that the effects of methane on global warming are thrice than what was estimated before.

Methane Release and Global Warming
Enormous amount of methane gas is trapped beneath the Earth's crust. This gas is released in the atmosphere as a result of anthropogenic activities, such as mining and oil drilling. Other than such anthropogenic activities, methane trapped beneath the Earth's crust is released through volcanoes and geological faults as well. Methane is also produced anaerobically by the process of methanogenesis. Other than these sources of methane, one of the most prominent source is cattle, or ruminating animals to be precise. Methane is produced within the body of these ruminating animals in a process referred to as enteric fermentation. Methane, when released in the atmosphere, tends to trap the heat coming from the Sun, and sends it back to the surface of the Earth, thus contributing to climate change.

Methane Global Warming Potential
When it comes to global warming, methane is 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Add to it the fact that the amount of methane released in the atmosphere has increased significantly over the last few years. In 1750, methane concentration in the Earth's atmosphere was 700 parts per billion (ppb), which soared up to 1745 parts per billion (ppb) in 1998, and continues to soar. Methane has a lifespan of approximately 7 years. Some may argue that this is negligent as compared to carbon dioxide with a lifespan of a hundred years. However, we also need to take into consideration the fact that methane is 21 times stronger than carbon dioxide, and hence has the tendency to cause more harm than the later.

Curb Methane Release: Curtail Global Warming
Scientists believe that the very fact that methane is responsible for global warming to such a great extent can work in our favor. Carbon dioxide has a lifespan of 100 years, while methane has a lifespan of just 7 years. This means that if the release of methane is stopped at this very moment, it will take 7 years to clean up its concentration in the atmosphere. In context of carbon dioxide, it would take 100 years to clean up from the moment its release is stopped. Completely stopping the release of methane may not be practical, but no one will deny the fact that it can be lessened gradually. At the same time, the fact that methane is 21 times more potent also means that cleaning up the atmosphere of this gas will help in reducing the impact of global warming on Earth by a significant extent.

Scientists are trying their best to come up with some concrete global warming solutions in order to curb the damage caused by this phenomenon. Understanding methane global warming potential is one thing, and acting upon it is another. Global warming is undoubtedly a major problem which we have been taking lightly all this while. This delay has just fueled the menace as well as other disasters associated with global warming. Evidence of global warming, such as melting glaciers, rising sea levels and frequent hurricanes, are the most prominent signs of the approaching disaster. The fact of the matter is that we are losing time, and if we still continue turning a blind eye towards the hazards of global warming, we might lose a lot, if not everything.