Emissions from vegetation extend the lifetime of atmospheric methane

According to the study, the emissions of volatile hydrocarbon compounds from vegetation increased by climate change can affect atmospheric chemistry, extending, among other things, the lifetime and climate effects of methane.

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In particular, the study examined the interaction between the emissions of reactive volatile organic compounds (VOC) and methane in the northern coniferous forest zone. Model tests showed that, in the scenario of strong climate change, the life expectancy of methane could increase by as much as 11.4% regionally.

Further information:

Professor Michael Boy, Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research and Lappeenranta–Lahti University of Technology, michael.boy@helsinki.fi

Research Professor Risto Makkonen, Finnish Meteorological Institute, tel. 029 539 4109, risto.makkonen@fmi.fi

Scientific article available on npj Climate and Atmospheric Science.

Reference: Boy, M., Zhou, P., Kurtén, T., Chen, D., Xavier, C., Clusius, P., Roldin, P., Baykara, M., Pichelstorfer, L., Foreback, B., Bäck, J., Petäjä, T., Makkonen, R., Kerminen, V.-M., Pihlatie, M., Aalto, J., and Kulmala, M.: Positive feedback mechanism between biogenic volatile organic compounds and the methane lifetime in future climates. npj Climate and Atmospheric Science 5, 72, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41612-022-00292-0, 2022.

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