Constraints on the Late Holocene Anthropogenic Contribution to the Atmospheric Methane Budget
Abstract
Bipolar Signature: Atmospheric methane has increased approximately 2.5-fold since the start of the industrial revolution, a consequence of human activity. However, a smaller and more gradual rise began around 6000 years ago, near the time when human agriculture began to develop and expand. Mitchell et al. (p. 964 ) present two, high-resolution ice core methane records of the past 2500 years, one from each pole. Methane emissions were primarily from the tropics, with secondary contributions from the higher latitudes where most humans lived. Thus, both natural and human sources are needed to explain the late-Holocene atmospheric methane record.
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Atmospheric methane concentrations ranged from 590-760 ppb through much of the Holocene up to 1700 C.E.
“Ice core records show atmospheric methane (CH4) concentrations range from 590 -760 ppb through much of the Holocene ( 71-75 ) up to 1700 C.E.”
From The Anthropocene is functionally and stratigraphically distinct from the Holocene (2016) · cites this paper as [75]
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- Authors
- Mitchell, L., Brook, E., Lee, J. E., Buizert, C., & Sowers, T.
- Affiliations
- Oregon State University (US)
- College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
- Pennsylvania State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Mitchell, Logan
- Venue
- Science
- Published
- 2013-11-22
- Volume
- 342
- Issue
- 6161
- Pages
- 964-966
- ISSN
- 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
- 1095-9203
- OpenAlex
- W2078730174
- Cited by
- 136
- References
- 31
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 5.83
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Atmospheric and Environmental Gas Dynamics
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
- Keywords
- atmospheric methane, Late Holocene, anthropogenic methane emissions, natural methane sources
- MeSH terms
- Agriculture, Antarctic Regions, Atmosphere, Greenland, Humans, Industry, Methane, Oryza, Ice Cover
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