Efforts to control ozone pollution may unintentionally slow methane removal
A new study in Nature, coauthored by ICE-4 director Michaela Hegglin, examines how changes in air pollution affect the atmosphere’s ability to remove methane—a powerful greenhouse gas—through interactions with the hydroxyl radical (OH).
Using both observations and models from 2005 to 2021, the researchers found that rising atmospheric ozone and water vapor, and falling carbon monoxide levels increased the global methane sink by 1.3–2.0 Tg per year, especially in the tropics. However, extreme events like wildfires and the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily reduced OH levels, weakening this sink. The findings reveal a complex trade-off: efforts to control ozone pollution may unintentionally slow methane removal mediated by OH.
More information
Air pollution modulates trends and variability of the global methane budget on nature.com
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