Effects of increasing methane on tropospheric and stratospheric chemistry

Conference · Wed Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:10163620

Wuebbles, D J; Tamaresis, J S; Kinnison, D E

Methane (CH{sub 4}) is the most abundant reactive trace gas in the troposphere. Due to its relatively long atmospheric lifetime, CH{sub 4} chemistry has an important influence on the global atmosphere, affecting the amount of ozone (O{sub 3}) in both the troposphere and stratosphere, the amount of hydroxyl (OH) in the troposphere, and the amount of water vapor (H{sub 2}0) in the stratosphere. Methane oxidation also is an important source of atmospheric carbon monoxide (CO). In addition, CH{sub 4} is a greenhouse gas and its increasing concentrations are of interest to concerns about climate change. In this study, we reexamine the effects of increasing CH{sub 4} using the LLNL two-dimensional chemical-radiative-transport model. Several papers had previously examined the effects of a CH{sub 4} perturbation in the troposphere and stratosphere, the last being Isaksen and Stordal (1968). Their model uses homogeneous chemistry with older kinetic parameters and does not include dynamic or radiative feedback. We extend their work by including two heterogeneous reactions that occur on background sulfuric acid aerosols.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 10163620
• Report Number(s): UCRL-JC--108376; CONF-9110220--3; ON: DE92017436
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMICALS MONITORING AND TRANSPORT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
GLOBAL ASPECTS
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
METHANE
STRATOSPHERE
TROPOSPHERE