Reconcile global atmospheric concentrations and land surface fluxes of methane

Qianlai Zhuang, Purdue University, qzhuang@purdue.edu (Presenter)

While field and laboratory studies suggest that there are more methane emission sources than previously identified and their surface emissions are strengthening, the satellite and remote sensing observations and in situ flask measurements show a stagnant increasing trend of atmospheric methane concentrations in some periods and perplexed rising trends in others. It is imperative to reconcile the seemingly paradoxical disparities between observed concentrations and increasing surface fluxes in order to adequately incorporate this potentially large methane feedback to the global climate system into Earth System Models. Here we review the global methane budget and its sources and sinks. We further propose ways to reconcile these differences. Specifically, we will present how to reconcile (1) the global surface fluxes and their associated uncertainties developed via observations and top-down and bottom-up estimates and (2) the observed atmospheric concentrations and their uncertainties and top-down and bottom-up estimates of surface fluxes.

Presentation Type:  Poster

Session:  Coupled Processes at Land-Atmosphere-Ocean Interfaces   (Mon 4:00 PM)

Associated Project(s): 

• Zhuang, Qianlai: Changes of Land Cover and Land Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Northern Eurasia: Impacts on Human Adaptation and Quality of Life at Regional and Global Scales ...details

Poster Location ID: 104