The world breathed a collective sigh of relief as COVID-19 ravaged the globe, causing widespread lockdowns and plummeting emissions. Satellite sensors captured the dramatic decline in nitrogen dioxide levels, a telltale sign that industry and travel had come to a near standstill. For the first time in decades, the air seemed cleaner.
But amidst the pandemic-induced respite, a disturbing trend emerged: methane emissions surged to record highs. The second most significant greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide, methane's growth rate soared by 16.2 parts per billion in 2020 – a jump not seen since systematic records began in the early 1980s.
Researchers have long known that atmospheric methane doesn't simply vanish; it undergoes a complex chemistry that involves the hydroxyl radical, a highly reactive molecule that breaks down methane into water vapor and carbon dioxide. However, when nitrogen oxide levels plummeted during lockdowns, the production of this radical slowed to a crawl. Without enough hydroxyl radicals to go around, methane molecules lingered in the atmosphere for longer – allowing the potent greenhouse gas to warm the planet.
A new study published in Science sheds light on the tangled web of factors driving this phenomenon. The results suggest that while the weakened atmospheric sink explained the bulk of the 2020 surge, it wasn't the only factor at play. Tropical African and Asian wetlands alone were responsible for roughly 30 percent of the global methane emissions increase during the 2020-2022 period.
The surge was triggered by La Niña, a relatively rare meteorological event that led to record-breaking rainfall in the tropics. In these waterlogged environments, microbial methanogens thrived, churning out methane at an accelerated pace. The findings highlight the complex interplay between human activities and natural processes – a reminder that solving the methane problem won't be as simple as turning off infrastructure leaks.
As policymakers grapple with the implications of this study, they'll face two major challenges: climate feedbacks and the clean air paradox. Climate feedbacks refer to the unintended consequences of warming temperatures on natural systems; in this case, it may lead to an increase in biogenic methane emissions that we cannot simply turn off. The clean air paradox arises from the fact that improved urban air quality – a byproduct of reducing fossil fuel use – will also decrease the atmosphere's capacity to scrub methane.
Peng and his team emphasize that while reduced anthropogenic methane emissions are necessary, they may not be enough on their own. "I think that's the only choice for policymakers," he says. In reality, we'll need even more aggressive reductions than previously thought – a daunting task in an increasingly complex climate landscape.
The COVID-19 pandemic may have slowed human activity, but it has also highlighted the intricate web of relationships between human emissions and natural systems. As we move forward, it's crucial that policymakers recognize these connections and work towards a comprehensive solution that addresses both human activities and climate feedbacks – before the clean air paradox turns into a ticking time bomb.
But amidst the pandemic-induced respite, a disturbing trend emerged: methane emissions surged to record highs. The second most significant greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide, methane's growth rate soared by 16.2 parts per billion in 2020 – a jump not seen since systematic records began in the early 1980s.
Researchers have long known that atmospheric methane doesn't simply vanish; it undergoes a complex chemistry that involves the hydroxyl radical, a highly reactive molecule that breaks down methane into water vapor and carbon dioxide. However, when nitrogen oxide levels plummeted during lockdowns, the production of this radical slowed to a crawl. Without enough hydroxyl radicals to go around, methane molecules lingered in the atmosphere for longer – allowing the potent greenhouse gas to warm the planet.
A new study published in Science sheds light on the tangled web of factors driving this phenomenon. The results suggest that while the weakened atmospheric sink explained the bulk of the 2020 surge, it wasn't the only factor at play. Tropical African and Asian wetlands alone were responsible for roughly 30 percent of the global methane emissions increase during the 2020-2022 period.
The surge was triggered by La Niña, a relatively rare meteorological event that led to record-breaking rainfall in the tropics. In these waterlogged environments, microbial methanogens thrived, churning out methane at an accelerated pace. The findings highlight the complex interplay between human activities and natural processes – a reminder that solving the methane problem won't be as simple as turning off infrastructure leaks.
As policymakers grapple with the implications of this study, they'll face two major challenges: climate feedbacks and the clean air paradox. Climate feedbacks refer to the unintended consequences of warming temperatures on natural systems; in this case, it may lead to an increase in biogenic methane emissions that we cannot simply turn off. The clean air paradox arises from the fact that improved urban air quality – a byproduct of reducing fossil fuel use – will also decrease the atmosphere's capacity to scrub methane.
Peng and his team emphasize that while reduced anthropogenic methane emissions are necessary, they may not be enough on their own. "I think that's the only choice for policymakers," he says. In reality, we'll need even more aggressive reductions than previously thought – a daunting task in an increasingly complex climate landscape.
The COVID-19 pandemic may have slowed human activity, but it has also highlighted the intricate web of relationships between human emissions and natural systems. As we move forward, it's crucial that policymakers recognize these connections and work towards a comprehensive solution that addresses both human activities and climate feedbacks – before the clean air paradox turns into a ticking time bomb.
, but did you see what happened to our air quality? It's like we were given a gift 
- cleaner skies! I mean, nitrogen dioxide levels plummeted and all that. But now, methane emissions are back on the rise 
, which is super concerning. It just goes to show how complex it is when humans affect the environment and nature takes care of things in its own way 
.
That's wild! And now, we have climate feedbacks and the clean air paradox... it sounds like a science fiction movie 
. The thing is, we can't just stop at reducing fossil fuels; we need to tackle this whole methane issue head-on 
.
. So, yeah, I'm feeling a bit anxious about the future 
. We need policymakers to step up their game and figure out this mess ASAP 
!
. Like, I get it, lockdowns helped clean the air, but what's up with the increase in methane? It's like our efforts to reduce pollution somehow affected the balance of nature 
. And now we're facing a new challenge – climate feedbacks and the clean air paradox. It's all too much for my poor brain 
. I just hope our policymakers can get their act together and come up with a plan that works for everyone 
. We need to tackle this methane problem ASAP before it's too late 
- everyone knows they're there, but nobody really wants to talk about them. But seriously, what's crazy is how it relates to lockdowns and pollution decreasing, only for methane levels to go up. It just goes to show that our actions have ripple effects 
.
WITH LOCKDOWNS AND ALL, YOU'D THINK WE'D HAVE A BREAK, BUT NOPE - THE PLANET IS JUST WAITING FOR US TO LEARN OUR LESSON! 
AND IT'S NOT JUST INDUSTRY AND TRAVEL THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MESS, EITHER. THOSE TROPICAL WETLANDS IN AFRICA AND ASIA ARE LIKE, SPITTING OUT METHANE LIKE CRAZY NOW!!! 
We did get that sweet, sweet breather of fresh air while the world was locked down, but now we're facing a surge in methane levels that's like, woah. It's crazy to think that lockdowns actually helped methane linger in the atmosphere for longer. That's just wild. And it's not just the hydroxyl radical thingy – tropical wetlands are basically churning out methane like it's nobody's business. 
So yeah, this study is a big deal and I'm glad we're having these kinds of conversations about climate feedbacks and clean air paradoxes. Let's hope policymakers can get on board with some serious emissions reductions ASAP! 
Not to mention tropical wetlands are basically farting out greenhouse gases left and right. It's like Mother Nature is trying to tell us something... or maybe just laughing at our failed attempts to save ourselves so far. The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced we need way more drastic measures than what policymakers are gonna propose. We can't just slap on some Band-Aid solution and expect everything to magically fix itself. 
and La Niña triggered it all climate feedbacks too so turning off infrastructure leaks ain't gonna cut it we need more aggressive reductions 
Another study shows methane levels are way up despite lockdowns - like, what even is the point of all this? We're supposed to be relieved COVID-19 didn't kill us all off, but now we're stuck with climate problems because our air was cleaner for a hot second... 
And these tropical wetlands just can't stop producing methane?! 
It just keeps growing and growing until it becomes too much to handle. We thought we could slow it down with lockdowns, but now we're seeing that tropical wetlands are still producing crazy amounts of it. The study says 30% of the global increase came from those places alone! That's a lot of methane... 
I guess what's clear is that solving this problem isn't just about fixing our infrastructure leaks. We need to understand how natural systems are connected to human activities and tackle both at the same time. It's not going to be easy, but we can't afford to wait around for things to get out of hand. 
We need more than just reduction goals, we need a full-on overhaul of how we approach emissions and climate change. It's time to get super aggressive and think outside the box 
. I guess that's why they say 'complex' when talking about climate change... it's like trying to solve a puzzle with no clear picture 