US Weather Agency Says Rise in Methane Gas 'Alarming'
2023-04-13
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1The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (or NOAA) recently reported that the atmospheric gas methane increased in 2022.
2NOAA is the U.S. weather agency.
3It also studies the substances in the atmosphere.
4NOAA said methane in the atmosphere had its fourth-highest yearly increase since measurements have taken place.
5The agency said the increase was part of a rise in greenhouse gases that it called "alarming."
6Greenhouse gases are linked to warming in the Earth's atmosphere.
7Scientists pay a lot of attention to carbon dioxide for its part in warming.
8But they also are concerned about methane because it traps more heat.
9If measured over 20 years, methane is said to trap about 87 times more heat than carbon dioxide.
10Methane is a gas released, or emitted, from living things and carbon substances.
11Farm animals, microorganisms, waste, oil, and natural gas all can release methane.
12NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad said the observations collected by NOAA scientists in 2022 show that greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise at an alarming rate.
13He said they will stay in the atmosphere for thousands of years.
14He said, "The time is now to address greenhouse gas pollution and to lower human-caused emissions as we continue to build toward a climate-ready nation."
15Scientists say methane rose by 14 parts per billion (or ppb) to 1,911.9 parts per billion in 2022.
16One part per billion is equal to one ten-millionth of a percent.
17Methane rose a little faster in 2020 and 2021.
18NOAA said in its report that it does not know the reason for the increase.
19Stephen Porder is a professor of ecology at Brown University in the state of Rhode Island.
20He said that farm animals like goats, sheep, and cows are among the largest causes of methane from human activity.
21Scientists also say that methane emissions from the fossil fuel industry and the environment are underestimated.
22Benjamin Poulter is a NASA research scientist.
23He said the U.S. space agency has found "over half of the methane emissions are coming from human activities."
24The exact amount of methane that comes from human activity compared to natural activity is not known.
25But scientists say humans have little control over methane that comes from the environment.
26Drew Shindell is a Duke University professor and former climate scientist at NASA.
27He said if wetlands and natural systems create more gasses because of climate change, "...then that's very frightening because we can't do much to stop it."
28He said, if methane leaks from the fossil fuel industry, then governments can make laws to control it.
29But governments cannot make laws that control what wetlands do.
30Scientists are also investigating how a weather event called La Niña could influence levels of methane because of increased rainfall in warm places.
31Shindell told the Associated Press that methane caused by humans is responsible for about 26 percent of the warming caused by human activities.
32Porder said reducing fossil fuels and reducing the number of farm animals are ways to reduce methane in the atmosphere.
33The International Energy Agency estimates that 70 percent of 2022's methane could be reduced with existing technology.
34The NOAA report said the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and the gas nitrous oxide also increased in 2022.
35Carbon dioxide levels rose to 417.06 parts per million (or ppm) in 2022.
36One part per million is one ten-thousandth of a percent.
37Nitrous oxide, which NOAA calls the third-most damaging greenhouse gas emitted by humans, rose to 335.7 parts per billion.
38The agency blamed fertilizers and products from agriculture.
39I'm Gregory Stachel.
1The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (or NOAA) recently reported that the atmospheric gas methane increased in 2022. 2NOAA is the U.S. weather agency. It also studies the substances in the atmosphere. 3NOAA said methane in the atmosphere had its fourth-highest yearly increase since measurements have taken place. The agency said the increase was part of a rise in greenhouse gases that it called "alarming." Greenhouse gases are linked to warming in the Earth's atmosphere. 4Scientists pay a lot of attention to carbon dioxide for its part in warming. But they also are concerned about methane because it traps more heat. If measured over 20 years, methane is said to trap about 87 times more heat than carbon dioxide. 5Methane is a gas released, or emitted, from living things and carbon substances. Farm animals, microorganisms, waste, oil, and natural gas all can release methane. 6NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad said the observations collected by NOAA scientists in 2022 show that greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise at an alarming rate. He said they will stay in the atmosphere for thousands of years. He said, "The time is now to address greenhouse gas pollution and to lower human-caused emissions as we continue to build toward a climate-ready nation." 7Scientists say methane rose by 14 parts per billion (or ppb) to 1,911.9 parts per billion in 2022. One part per billion is equal to one ten-millionth of a percent. Methane rose a little faster in 2020 and 2021. NOAA said in its report that it does not know the reason for the increase. 8Stephen Porder is a professor of ecology at Brown University in the state of Rhode Island. He said that farm animals like goats, sheep, and cows are among the largest causes of methane from human activity. 9Scientists also say that methane emissions from the fossil fuel industry and the environment are underestimated. 10Benjamin Poulter is a NASA research scientist. He said the U.S. space agency has found "over half of the methane emissions are coming from human activities." 11The exact amount of methane that comes from human activity compared to natural activity is not known. But scientists say humans have little control over methane that comes from the environment. 12Drew Shindell is a Duke University professor and former climate scientist at NASA. He said if wetlands and natural systems create more gasses because of climate change, "...then that's very frightening because we can't do much to stop it." 13He said, if methane leaks from the fossil fuel industry, then governments can make laws to control it. But governments cannot make laws that control what wetlands do. 14Scientists are also investigating how a weather event called La Niña could influence levels of methane because of increased rainfall in warm places. 15Shindell told the Associated Press that methane caused by humans is responsible for about 26 percent of the warming caused by human activities. 16Porder said reducing fossil fuels and reducing the number of farm animals are ways to reduce methane in the atmosphere. 17The International Energy Agency estimates that 70 percent of 2022's methane could be reduced with existing technology. 18The NOAA report said the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and the gas nitrous oxide also increased in 2022. 19Carbon dioxide levels rose to 417.06 parts per million (or ppm) in 2022. One part per million is one ten-thousandth of a percent. Nitrous oxide, which NOAA calls the third-most damaging greenhouse gas emitted by humans, rose to 335.7 parts per billion. The agency blamed fertilizers and products from agriculture. 20I'm Gregory Stachel. 21Isabella O'Malley reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. 22_____________________________________________________________________ 23Words in This Story 24methane - n. a colorless gas that has no smell and that can be burned for fuel 25alarm - v. to worry or frighten (someone) 26address - v. to deal with (a matter, issue, or problem) 27fossil fuels - n. fuels such as coal, oil, or natural gas that are formed in the Earth from dead plants or animals 28frighten - v. to cause (someone) to become afraid 29_____________________________________________________________________ 30What do you think of this story? 31We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 32Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.