Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Exploding craters and overflowing landfills are unexpected sources of
methane
Methane is a colorless, odorless gas that occurs abundantly in nature
and as a product of certain human activities. Methane is lighter than air and
only slightly soluble in water. It burns rapidly in the air, forming carbon
dioxide. It has a much higher global warming potential (GWP) than CO2 over a
20-year period, although it eventually breaks down into CO2 in the atmosphere
over a longer timeframe. Naturally occurring methane is found both below ground
and under the seafloor and is formed by both geological and biological
processes, including permafrost, glacial meltwater, wetlands, and wildfires. Methane
is also produced directly by human activities, such as hydro power, landfills, and
agriculture. The Earth’s atmospheric methane concentration has been increasing
rapidly caused mainly by human activities and global warming. Methane is no less
harmful to the environment than CO2.
Read the article and learn about what methane is and from what source it
is released into the air.
No comments:
Post a Comment