Reading Time:
4
minutes
By Eloise Gibson for
R
NZ
A study from New Zealand says more methane gas is going into the air than we thought. This makes it harder to control global warming.
The study looked at data from the last 33 years in Wellington and Antarctica. It found that the atmosphere is getting better at cleaning methane.
This is important because methane is the second biggest cause of global warming after carbon dioxide. Methane is responsible for about 40% of today’s warming.
Scientists say we need to study this more to confirm the finding, as tracking methane is difficult. Wetlands are a big source of methane emissions.
More than 150 countries, including New Zealand, plan to cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030. But methane levels are still rising.
The lead author, Olaf Morgenstern, says we have to keep studying the air. His team used over three decades of data to help understand this problem better.
Vocabulary List:
- Methane /ˈmɛθ.eɪn/ (noun): A colorless odorless gas that is a major contributor to global warming.
- Emissions /ɪˈmɪʃ.ənz/ (noun): The act of releasing something especially gas or radiation.
- Warming /ˈwɔːr.mɪŋ/ (noun): An increase in temperature especially concerning the earth’s climate.
- Atmosphere /ˈæt.mə.sfɪr/ (noun): The envelope of gases surrounding the earth or another planet.
- Source /sɔːrs/ (noun): The origin of something from which it comes or is obtained.
- Study /ˈstʌd.i/ (verb): To apply oneself to learning about a subject especially in an academic context.
