What is methane? Greenhouse gases

Methane, a compound with the chemical formula CH4, a common fuel source, is the main component of natural gas. As it is relatively abundant on Earth, it is an attractive fuel. However, capturing and storing it poses challenges because of its gaseous state under normal conditions for temperature and pressure. Interestingly, despite its challenges, methane is being explored as a potential source for producing hydrogen, a clean energy carrier, through processes like steam methane reforming.

It is also a powerful greenhouse gas, i.e., it is one of the gases that drive climate change.

Environmentalists worry about CH4. If we let it get into our atmosphere from leaky gas pipes, for example, it absorbs the Sun’s heat. Subsequently, our planet warms up. Methane emissions also come from agricultural livestock.

Methane CH4 gas
Methane – or CH4 – consists of one atom of carbon and four atoms of hydrogen. (Image: adapted from uoregon.edu)

Recent studies have highlighted the role of methane in forming ground-level ozone, a harmful air pollutant, which underscores the need for more stringent regulations on methane emissions to protect air quality and public health.”

Methane vs. CO2

People often ask whether methane is as important as carbon dioxide regarding greenhouse gas emissions.

CH4 does not linger as long in the air as carbon dioxide (CO2) does. However, it absorbs heat much more effectively than CO2, so initially, it is a major greenhouse gas.

For the first twenty years after it is released, CH4 is between 25 and eighty-four times more potent than CO2 (figures vary depending on which study you look at).

Over the long-term CO2 matters more. However, we also need to control CH4 emissions, because it’s so potent.

Sources of Methane
The largest source of CH4 from human activity after agriculture is the oil & gas industry. According to climate-change-knowledge.org: “What makes food production such a large source is that livestock is the big source of methane emissions and most deforestation is clearing land for livestock and industrial-scale food production.” (Image: adapted from climate-change-knowledge.org)

Where do CH4 emissions come from?

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more than sixty percent of total CH4 emissions come from human activities. It is emitted from agriculture, industry, and waste management activities.

Industry

The largest source of emissions from industry in the developed nations is natural gas and petroleum systems.

When we extract natural gas, the process emits some CH4 into the atmosphere.

Agriculture

Domestic livestock including cattle, sheep, goats, buffalo, and camels produce large amounts of methane as part of their normal digestive processes, i.e., burps and farts.

CH4 is also produced when animals’ manure is managed or stored in holding tanks or lagoons. The agriculture sector is the main source of CH4 emissions globally.

A study found that dosing cattle with antibiotics increases the release of methane from cow dung.

Waste from Businesses and Homes

Waste that decomposes in landfills generates methane. The same occurs in the treatment of wastewater. In the US, landfills are the third largest source of CH4 emissions.

US Methane Emissions
The United States has seen methane emissions decline by 6% over a 24-year period. (Image: epa.org)
Natural sources

Methane also comes from several natural sources. The largest natural sources are wetlands, which emit CH4 from microorganisms (bacteria) that decompose organic materials in the absence of oxygen. Smaller sources include wildfires, volcanoes, sediments, oceans, and termites.

Many countries are reducing methane emissions. In the US they declined by 6% between 1990 and 2014.

During that 24-year period, emissions grew from sources linked to agricultural activities but fell considerably from sources related to the oil & gas industry.

Video – What is Methane?

This interesting video, from our sister channel in YouTube – Marketing Business Network, explains what ‘Methane’ is using simple and easy-to-understand language and examples.