Methane

CH₄, Marsh Gas

Methane, a colorless and inflammable gas, is most abundant in the troposphere
Methane is a strong greenhouse gas and an important source of stratospheric water vapor that contributes to global warming. The concentration of methane has doubled since pre-industrial times. The atmospheric mixing ratio of methane is currently about 1.7 parts per million. This increase is attributed to the intensified human activity in the agriculture, biomass burning, and fossil fuel consumption. The atmospheric lifetime of methane is about eight years. It reacts with atmospheric hydroxyl(OH) in the troposphere froming the formaldehyde (HCHO),carbon monoxide(CO) and Ozone (O₃).

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Click on the corresponding 'Data access' links in the table below to access products containing specific parameter.

Parameter	Units	Platform /Instrument	Data Products
			Begin Date	End Date	Data Access	Doc
Methane (CH4) Profiles	vmr	Aura/HIRDLS	2004-07-15	Current	HIRDLS2	Y
		UARS/HALOE	1991-10-11	2005-11-21	UARHA2FN	Y
		Aqua/AIRS	2002-08-30	Current	AIRS Level2	Y
					AIRS Level3	Y
Methane (CH4) Column Density	molecules/cm2	Aqua/AIRS	2002-08-30	Current	AIRS Level2	Y
					AIRS Level3	Y
Methane (CH4) Profiles, mixing ratios at different pressure levels (Global Gridded, at equal intervals of latitude/or equal intervals of time)	vmr	Aura/HIRDLS	2004-07-15	Current	HIRDLS2	Y
		UARS/HALOE	1991-10-11	2005-11-21	UARHA3AT	Y
		UARS/CLAES	1991-10-25	1993-05-05	UARCL3AT	Y
					UARCL3AL	Y
		UARS/ISAMS	1991-09-26	1992-07-29	UARIS3AT	Y
					UARIS3AL	Y