Regis Philbin
Nov 22nd, 2006, 09:50 PM
http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=337312&ssid=26&sid=ENV
Methane levels have stabilised over the last 7 years
Washington, Nov 22: Researchers at the University of California have determined that the levels of atmospheric methane have stayed nearly flat for the past seven years.
This closely follows a rise that spanned at least two decades, they said.
Professors F. Sherwood Rowland and Donald R. Blake, along with researchers Isobel J. Simpson and Simone Meinardi, who conducted the study said their findings indicated that methane might no longer be as large a global warming threat as previously thought.
The team found that from December 1998 to December 2005, the samples showed a near-zero growth of methane, ranging from a 0.2 percent decrease per year to a 0.3 percent gain. On the other hand, from 1978 to 1987, the amount of methane in the global troposphere increased by 11 percent.
They said the findings provided evidence that methane levels could be controlled, and that pulses of increased methane were paralleled by increases of ethane, a gas, which was emitted during fires.
This, the two said, was further indication that methane was formed during biomass burning, and that large-scale fires could be a big source of atmospheric methane.
Methane levels have stabilised over the last 7 years
Washington, Nov 22: Researchers at the University of California have determined that the levels of atmospheric methane have stayed nearly flat for the past seven years.
This closely follows a rise that spanned at least two decades, they said.
Professors F. Sherwood Rowland and Donald R. Blake, along with researchers Isobel J. Simpson and Simone Meinardi, who conducted the study said their findings indicated that methane might no longer be as large a global warming threat as previously thought.
The team found that from December 1998 to December 2005, the samples showed a near-zero growth of methane, ranging from a 0.2 percent decrease per year to a 0.3 percent gain. On the other hand, from 1978 to 1987, the amount of methane in the global troposphere increased by 11 percent.
They said the findings provided evidence that methane levels could be controlled, and that pulses of increased methane were paralleled by increases of ethane, a gas, which was emitted during fires.
This, the two said, was further indication that methane was formed during biomass burning, and that large-scale fires could be a big source of atmospheric methane.