Scientists may have figured out why a potent greenhouse gas is rising. The answer is scary

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Washington Post or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Methane levels, a potent greenhouse gas, have been surging since 2020, with scientists now attributing the rise to microbial activity in natural and agricultural environments, including wetlands, rice fields, and cow stomachs

🔭 The context: Methane, although short-lived compared to CO₂, has over 80 times its warming power in the short term, and its rising levels could drive global temperatures up faster than anticipated
• Recent research identified "lighter" methane isotopes, suggesting that biological sources rather than fossil fuels are the primary contributors

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: With tropical wetlands potentially emitting more methane as temperatures rise, there may be a dangerous feedback loop where warming itself increases methane release, intensifying climate impacts

⏭️ What's next: To counteract this trend, scientists emphasize reducing human-driven methane emissions from oil, agriculture, and livestock sources, as natural wetland emissions are harder to control

💬 One quote: "This may be the start of a reinforcing feedback, that higher temperatures release more methane from natural ecosystems," - Rob Jackson, Stanford University professor

📈 One stat: Since 2020, the growth rate of atmospheric methane concentrations has nearly doubled, increasing by about 10 to 12 parts per billion each year, up from 5 to 6 parts per billion annually before 2020

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