Indicator: A-38 Greenhouse - methane concentrations and growth rates
Data
Cape Grim air archive and monthly averaged atmospheric methane (CH4) data in units of parts per billion (ppb)
Source: CSIRO Atmospheric Research and Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station/Australian Bureau of Meteorology
What the data mean
The data shows a steady increase in methane concentrations over the reporting period, 1984 to 2004. The annual growth varies from zero to eighteen parts per billion per annum.
Data Limitations
Nil known
Issues for which this is an indicator and why
Atmosphere — Climate variability and change - Greenhouse
Atmospheric constituents such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide contribute to a natural greenhouse effect and, with clouds, maintain the earth’s energy balance. The earth’s energy balance can change through increasing concentrations of these constituents in the atmosphere, as a result of human activities and natural events. Atmospheric concentrations of methane and growth rates are a direct indicator for this issue.
Other indicators for this issue:
- A-07 Greenhouse - carbon dioxide concentrations and growth rates
- A-08 Greenhouse - change in total carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by gas
- A-39 Greenhouse - nitrous oxide concentrations and growth rates
- A-40 Greenhouse - change in total carbon dioxide equivalent emissions per capita and gross domestic product
- A-41 Greenhouse - climate change projections
- A-42 Greenhouse - carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by sector
- A-43 Greenhouse - carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by primary fuel type
- A-44 Greenhouse - carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by mode of travel and road transport emissions by vehicle type
- A-45 Greenhouse - agricultural sector carbon dioxide equivalent emissions
- A-46 Greenhouse - carbon dioxide equivalent emissions from land use, land use change and forestry
- Greenhouse - climate change projections
- LD-05 Terrestrial carbon loss rate and rate of land carbon sequestration
- LD-39 Change in biomass stock
- CO-03 Sea level
- CO-04 Sea surface temperature variability
- CO-44 Marine chlorophyll concentration
- CO-60 Sea salinity
- AAT-12 Changes in colonies of plants on Heard Island
- AAT-14 Ice sheet mass balance and sea ice extent
- AAT-15 Glacier movement
Further Information
Source: Keppler F, Hamilton JTG, Brar M and Rockmann T 2006, Methane emissions from terrestrial plants under aerobic conditions.
Key
Links to another web site
Links to data in the DRS
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