Kiran Chug of the Dominion post reports new evidence which has shown that methane levels worldwide are on the rise again, following years of staying at the same level.
The gas – a potent greenhouse gas – contributes to global warming, and there are concerns that climate change could, in turn, contribute to larger releases of the gas, which is given off by wetlands as well as agriculture.
An excerpt: (read in full here)
“The director of Victoria University’s climate change research centre, Martin Manning, said around the world, scientists did not really understand why methane levels had risen again. “It would be a bit premature to ascribe it to human activity.”
“However, Dr Manning saidmethane levels in the atmosphere may be rising because of the effects of climate change. Since that lull, it was possible methane emissions from wetlands had started increasing because of climate change. Less ice cover in the Arctic could also add to methane levels.
“Dr Lassey said in the future, it was likely climate change would increase rainfall levels and the occurrence of storms, which could see wetlands producing more methane.”