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

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By illuminem briefings

· 2 min read


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

Click for more news covering the latest on carbon

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