Researchers in the US have done the first ever whole-country study of methane emissions. In some cases they found higher methane concentrations than presented on current emission maps, particularly in large regions of fossil fuel industrial activity.
The highest methane concentrations were in areas with refinery activity, and in California in a Central Valley region of oil and gas production.
Methane is a stronger, more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide on a 20 year timescale.
The research suggests reducing industrial methane emissions simultaneously with efforts on carbon dioxide may have significant benefits in slowing climate change.
Read more at University of California, Santa Barbara’s Marine Science Institute