Keep in mind that this 1909.3 ppb reading is for November 2021; it now is March 2022. Furthermore, NOAA's data are for marine surface measurements; more methane tends to accumulate at higher altitudes.
The image below shows that the
MetOp-B satellite recorded a mean methane level of 1936 ppb at 321 mb on March 7, 2022 pm.
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide levels are currently very high over the Arctic, as illustrated by the image below that shows carbon dioxide levels approaching 430 parts per million (ppm) recently at Barrow, Alaska.
Clouds tipping point
The danger is that high greenhouse gas levels could combine to push the carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) level over the 1200 ppm clouds tipping point, at first in one spot, causing low-altitude clouds in various neighboring areas to break up there, and then propagating break-up of clouds in further areas, as discussed at the
clouds feedback page.
The MetOp-B satellite recorded a mean methane level of
1958 ppb on October 25, 2021 am at 295 mb. When using a
1-year GWP of 200, this translates into 391.6 ppm CO₂e. Together with a global mean CO₂ level of 420 ppm, that's 811.6 ppm CO₂e, i.e. only 388.4 ppm CO₂e away from the 1200 ppm CO₂e clouds tipping point.
The image on the right shows a trend based pointing at a methane level of almost 4000 ppb by end 2026, from an
earlier post.
Alternatively, an additional 5 Gt of methane from abrupt release from the seafloor could raise the global mean methane concentration by about 2000 ppb, and even earlier than 2026.
At a 1-year GWP of 200, an extra 2000 ppb would translate into an extra 400 ppm CO₂e, thus pushing the joint impact of just two greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and methane) above the 1200 ppm CO₂e clouds tipping point and raising the global temperature by 8°C due to the clouds feedback alone, i.e. on top of the additional rise caused by other warming elements, as further discussed below.
A
2021 analysis indicates that massive methane seepage from the seafloor of the Arctic Ocean occurred during ice sheet wastage over the last and penultimate deglaciation periods (i.e. the Holocene, ~20-15 ka, respectively the Eemian, ~140-130 ka).
At the time, seafloor methane entering the atmosphere could be accommodated without resulting in huge temperature rises, because such releases were spread out over relatively long periods, while the level of methane in the atmosphere at the time was relatively low and since the lifetime of methane is limited to a decade or so.
Today, circumstances are much more dire in many respects. While high heat peaks may have occurred locally during the last and penultimate deglaciation, today's global mean temperature is higher, as James Hansen et al., confirmed in a
2017 analysis. Furthermore, a
2012 analysis indicates that oceanic heat transport to the Arctic today is higher.
Greenhouse gas levels are very high at the moment and their rise is accelerating. As a result of the rapidity of today's rise, new seafloor methane eruptions can occur while previous methane releases haven't yet been broken down in the atmosphere.
Seafloor methane eruptions can thus trigger a huge temperature rise, as illustrated by the image on the right, from the
extinction page.
Conclusions
The situation is dire and calls for the most comprehensive and effective action, as described at the
Climate Plan.
Links
• CNN - Russian scientists say they've found the highest-ever 'flares' of methane in Arctic waters
• Arctic methane release due to melting ice is likely to happen again
• Young people's burden - by James Hansen et al.
• Extinction
• Climate Plan
