Air Quality Side-Effects of Enhanced Methane Oxidation as a Climate Solution
Methane (CH4) is a greenhouse gas with a global warming potential 81.2 times higher than carbon dioxide (CO2).1 The intentional emission of oxidants into the atmosphere has been proposed as a geoengineering solution to accelerate the oxidation of CH4 to CO2, thereby reducing surface warming.2–4 However, there has been little consideration for competing atmospheric oxidation pathways that will reduce CH4 oxidation efficiencies and result in the formation of secondary pollutants such as ozone and particulate matter. Using a global chemical-transport model, we find that proposed emission rates of oxidants have minimal impacts on monthly average tropospheric ozone and particulate matter concentrations. However, competition for the oxidation of CH4 would necessitate widespread adoption of such technology to remove substantial concentrations of atmospheric CH4, which would in-turn cause considerable increases in regional winter-time particulate matter. Our work underscores the need to consider competing chemistry in evaluating the efficacy and side effects of proposals to enhance the atmospheric oxidation of CH4 as a climate solution.
Zoom Meeting ID: 833 5748 7736 Passcode: 031874