Does Rate of Global Warming Slowing?

In the last decades (1984-2005), scientists observed a slowing build-up of atmospheric methane (CH4) due to the decline of its emission.

Atmospheric methane is the second most abundant greenhouse gas followed by Carbon dioxide (CO2) which outnumbered methane 200 times. Though, methane is 20 times more efficient as a heat-trapping greenhouse gas, a relatively larger quantity of carbon dioxide makes it still the biggest contributor to green house effect or global warming.

According to the scientists, the decline of methane emissions was attributed to the slowdown in the production of coal, oil and natural gas following the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, along with an ongoing drought that shrunk tropical wetlands, according to the study. However, they still warn that ff methane’s growth rate resumes its historic pace, its future contribution to global warming could be significant

Reference:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Category Filed in: Polution and Global Warming
Local date: February, 2010