20-year Record of Methane Observed by AIRS (2002-2022)

This animation shows the 20-year record of upper tropospheric methane observed by AIRS. The map in the upper panel shows the changes in the global distribution over time while the curve in the lower panel shows a time series of the zonal mean in the 40-50N latitude band. Both the map and the curve show a seasonal cycle that is driven by atmospheric chemistry and a persistent upward trend, with a growth rate that varies from one year to the next. Drivers of variation in the methane growth rate include anthropogenic and economic factors as well as changes in atmospheric chemistry over time.