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Title: A large increase in U.S. methane emissions over the past decade inferred from satellite data and surface observations

Journal Article · · Geophysical Research Letters
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL067987· OSTI ID:1240197
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [2];  [1];  [3];  [4];  [5]
  1. School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Harvard University Cambridge Massachusetts USA
  2. School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Harvard University Cambridge Massachusetts USA, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences Harvard University Cambridge Massachusetts USA
  3. IMK‐ASF Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Karlsruhe Germany
  4. Netherlands Institute for Space Research Utrecht Netherlands
  5. Earth Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley California USA
+ Show Author Affiliations

Abstract The global burden of atmospheric methane has been increasing over the past decade, but the causes are not well understood. National inventory estimates from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency indicate no significant trend in U.S. anthropogenic methane emissions from 2002 to present. Here we use satellite retrievals and surface observations of atmospheric methane to suggest that U.S. methane emissions have increased by more than 30% over the 2002–2014 period. The trend is largest in the central part of the country, but we cannot readily attribute it to any specific source type. This large increase in U.S. methane emissions could account for 30–60% of the global growth of atmospheric methane seen in the past decade.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
1240197
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1240198; OSTI ID: 1471011
Journal Information:
Geophysical Research Letters, Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters Vol. 43 Journal Issue: 5; ISSN 0094-8276
Publisher:
American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 91 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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