Excuse me! The problem with methane gas
Further Reading
August 2010
The Science of Climate change: Questions and Answers.
A document summarising the current understanding of climate change science for non-specialist readers.
30 October 2008
Another potent greenhouse gas on the rise
Reports on an increase in global atmospheric methane levels in 2007.
19 October 2006
Methane-munching microbes check climate (by Christine Zdanowicz)
Suggests that methane-eating microbes on the ocean floor may help to control global warming.
28 September 2006
Earth’s missing methane riddle solved (by Erica Harrison)
Explains lower than expected atmospheric methane levels as being due to the drying of wetlands.
No. 145, pages 26-27
Is kangaroo really a more sustainable choice? (by Joanne Isaac)
Explains why eating kangaroo is better for the environment than livestock farming.
No. 145, page 32
Carbon time-bomb in permafrost zones?
Comments on the levels of carbon (including methane) in permafrost regions.
No. 127, page 4
New insights on the early sources of greenhouse methane.
Describes a study into how methane levels have changed over the past 2000 years.
17 August 2009
As Arctic Ocean warms, megatonnes of methane bubble up (by Michael Marshall)
Reports that methane is being released from the sea floor of the Arctic Ocean, possibly from methane hydrates.
27 June 2009, pages 30-33
Ice on fire: The next fossil fuel (by Fred Pearce)
Discusses the potential of methane clathrates as a source of energy.
28 March 2009, pages 32-36
Arctic meltdown is a threat to humanity (by Fred Pearce)
Outlines the potential effects of warming in the Arctic Ocean, including the melting of permafrost and hydrates leading to release of methane.
10 February 2009
Eating less meat could cut climate costs (by Jim Giles)
Presents potential reductions in the costs of climate change, by reducing meat consumption.
20 December 2008, pages 48-50
Kangaroos to the rescue (by Bijal Trivedi)
Outlines the methane emissions from traditional livestock and potential ways to reduce these emissions.
RTD Info
February 2006
The strange world of oceanic methane
Covers the production of methane in oceanic sediments, methane hydrates and the clathrate gun hypothesis.
5 February 2010
Defusing the methane greenhouse time bomb (by Christopher Mims)
Suggests that bacteria and the fresh-water cap on the Arctic Ocean may prevent large-scale release of methane into the atmosphere.
December 2009, pages 45-51
Methane: A menace surfaces (by Katey Walter Anthony)
Discusses the current status of thawing permafrost and its role in methane emissions.
June 2009, Special Edition
The Arctic thaw could make global warming worse (by Sarah Simpson)
Details the release of methane from Arctic permafrost.
February 2007, pages 40-45
Methane, plants and climate change (by Frank Keppler and Thomas Röckmann)
Describes a study showing that plants release methane.
July 2004, pages 52-59
When methane made climate (by James F. Kasting)
Reviews the important role of methane-producing microbes in global climate, around 3.5 billion years ago.
June 2009
Nuclear tools for climate change
Describes research showing that increased atmospheric methane levels 12,000 years ago were not from methane hydrates.
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Posted November 2009, edited August 2012.