Indirect chemical effects of methane on climate warming (original) (raw)

Nature volume 355, pages 339–342 (1992) Cite this article

A Correction to this article was published on 18 June 1992

Abstract

METHANE concentrations in the atmosphere have increased from about 0.75 to 1.7 p.p.m.v. since pre-industrial times1,2. The current annual rate of increase of about 0.8% yr−1 (ref. 2) is due to increases in industrial and agricultural emissions. This increase in atmospheric methane concentrations not only influences the climate directly, but also indirectly through chemical reactions. Here we show that the climate effects of methane's atmospheric chemistry have previously been overestimated, notably by the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)3, largely owing to neglect of the height dependence of certain atmospheric radiative processes. Using available estimates of fossil-fuel-related leaks of methane, our results show that switching from coal and oil to natural gas as an energy source would reduce climate warming. A significant fraction of methane emissions cannot, however, be accounted for by known sources; should leakages from gas production and distribution be underestimated for some countries, then it might be unwise to switch to using natural gas.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Subscribe to this journal

Receive 52 print issues and online access

$199.00 per year

only $3.83 per issue

Buy this article

USD 39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Additional access options:

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Pearman, G. I. et al. Nature 320, 248–250 (1986).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  2. Steele, L. P. et al. J. atmos. Chem. 5, 125–171 (1987).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  3. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report of Working Group I (eds Houghton, J. T. et al.) (WMO/UNEP, New York, 1990).
  4. Ramanathan, V. J. atmos. Sci. 33, 1330–1346 (1976).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  5. Donner, L. & Ramanathan, V. J. atmos. Sci. 37, 119–124 (1980).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  6. Hansen, J. et al. J. geophys. Res. 93, 9341–9364 (1988).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  7. Derwent, R. G. Trace Gases and their Relative Contribution to the Greenhouse Effect, Rep. AERF-R13716 (Harwell Laboratory, Oxfordshire, 1989).
  8. Rodhe, H. Science 248, 1217–1219 (1990).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  9. Lashof, D. A. & Ahuja, D. R. Nature 344, 529–531 (1990).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  10. Vaghjiani, G. L. & Ravishankara, A. R. Nature 350, 406–409 (1991).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  11. Valentin, K. M. thesis, Univ. of Mainz (1991).
  12. Siegonthaler, U. J. geophys. Res. 88, 3599–3608 (1983).
    Article ADS Google Scholar
  13. Crutzen, P. J. Pure appl. Geophys. 106–8, 1385–1399 (1973).
    Article Google Scholar
  14. Nicolet, M. Disc. Faraday Soc. 37, 7–27 (1964).
    Article Google Scholar
  15. Brühl, C. & Crutzen, P. J. Clim. Dynam. 2, 173–203 (1988).
    Article ADS Google Scholar
  16. Neftel, A. et al. Nature 295, 220–223 (1982).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  17. Raynaud, D. & Barnola, J. M. Nature 315, 309–311 (1985).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  18. Keeling, C. D. et al. in Carbon Dioxide Review 1982 (ed. Clark, W. C.) 377–398 (Clarendon, Oxford, 1982).
    Google Scholar
  19. Wang, W.-C. et al. J. atmos. Sci. 37, 545–552 (1980).
    Article ADS Google Scholar
  20. Dobson, G. M. B., Brewer, A. W. & Cwilong, B. M. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. A185, 144–175 (1946).
    ADS CAS Google Scholar
  21. Sze, N. D. Science 195, 673–675 (1977).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  22. Lelieveld, J. & Crutzen, P. J. Nature 343, 227–233 (1990).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  23. Isaksen, I. S. A. & Hov, O. Tellus B39, 271–285 (1987).
    Article Google Scholar
  24. Prinn, R. et al. J. geophys. Res. (submitted).
  25. Cicerone, R. J. & Oremland R. S. Global biogeochem. Cycles 2, 299–327 (1988).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  26. Wahlen, M. et al. Science 245, 280–290 (1989).
    Article ADS Google Scholar
  27. Quay, P. D. et al. Global biogeochem. Cycles 2, 385–397 (1988).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  28. Arthur D. Little (ADL) Methane Emissions from the Oil and Gas Production Industries, Rep. to Ruhrgas A. G. (Essen, 1989).
    Google Scholar
  29. Okken, P. A. Energy Policy, 203–204 (March, 1990).
  30. Ermittlung der Methan-Freisetzung durch Stoffverluste bei der Erdgasversorgung der BRD (Battelle, Frankfurt, 1989).
  31. Lelieveld, J., Crutzen, P. J. & Brühl, C. Chemosphere (submitted).
  32. Marland, G. & Rotty, R. M. Tellus B36, 232–261 (1984).
    Article Google Scholar

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-lnstitute for Chemistry, PO Box 3060, D-6500, Mainz, Germany
    Jos Lelieveld & Paul J. Crutzen

Authors

  1. Jos Lelieveld
  2. Paul J. Crutzen

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lelieveld, J., Crutzen, P. Indirect chemical effects of methane on climate warming.Nature 355, 339–342 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1038/355339a0

Download citation

This article is cited by