Open AccessGlobal Methan Emissions From Wetlands, Rice Paddies, and Lakes
Author(s) -
Zhuang Qianlai,
Melack John M.,
Zimov Sergey,
Walter Katey M.,
Butenhoff Christopher L.,
Khalil M. Aslam K.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/2009eo050001
Subject(s) - atmospheric methane , methane , greenhouse gas , wetland , environmental science , radiative forcing , atmospheric sciences , paddy field , carbon dioxide , tropospheric ozone , atmospheric chemistry , greenhouse effect , ozone , global warming potential , environmental chemistry , troposphere , climate change , global warming , oceanography , meteorology , chemistry , ecology , geology , geography , biology , organic chemistry
The current concentration of atmospheric methane is 1774±1.8 parts per billion, and it accounts for 18% of total greenhouse gas radiative forcing [ Forster et al. , 2007]. Atmospheric methane is 22 times more effective, on a per‐unit‐mass basis, than carbon dioxide in absorbing long‐wave radiation on a 100‐year time horizon, and it plays an important role in atmospheric ozone chemistry (e.g., in the presence of nitrous oxides, tropospheric methane oxidation will lead to the formation of ozone). Wetlands are a large source of atmospheric methane, Arctic lakes have recently been recognized as a major source [e.g., Walter et al. , 2006], and anthropogenic activities—such as rice agriculture—also make a considerable contribution.