page_title: Arctic methane emissions
hierarchical_section_title: Arctic methane emissions
caption_attribution_description: English: Methane concentrations in Barrow, Alaska Le Français&#160;: Teneurs de méthane dans l'air de l'Arctique, mesuré in situ en Alaska (Point Barrow), de 1986 à décembre 2018 (Moyennes mensuelles). Le taux de méthane perdu dans l'atmosphère par la région arctique ne cesse d'augmenter. Le pic le plus élevé (1976,92 ppb) date pour cette période de 2017. Source NOAA/Observatoire de Point Barrow, Alaska, 71.323 -156.611
context_page_description: Arctic methane release is the release of methane from seas and soils in permafrost regions of the Arctic. While it is a long-term natural process, methane release is exacerbated by global warming. This results in negative effects, as methane is itself a powerful greenhouse gas.
  The Arctic region is one of the many natural sources of the greenhouse gas methane. Global warming accelerates its release, due to both release of methane from existing stores, and from methanogenesis in rotting biomass. Large quantities of methane are stored in the Arctic in natural gas deposits, permafrost, and as undersea clathrates. Permafrost and clathrates degrade on warming, thus large releases of methane from these sources may arise as a result of global warming. Other sources of methane include submarine taliks, river transport, ice complex retreat, submarine permafrost and decaying gas hydrate deposits.
  Concentrations in the Arctic atmosphere are higher by 8–10% than that in the Antarctic atmosphere. During cold glacier epochs, this gradient decreases to practically insignificant levels.
context_section_description: Arctic methane release is the release of methane from seas and soils in permafrost regions of the Arctic.  While it is a long-term natural process, methane release is exacerbated by global warming. This results in  negative effects, as methane is itself a powerful greenhouse gas.
  The Arctic region is one of the many natural sources of the greenhouse gas methane. Global warming accelerates its release, due to both release of methane from existing stores, and from methanogenesis in rotting biomass. Large quantities of methane are stored in the Arctic in natural gas deposits, permafrost, and as undersea clathrates. Permafrost and clathrates degrade on warming, thus large releases of methane from these sources may arise as a result of global warming. Other sources of methane include submarine taliks, river transport, ice complex retreat, submarine permafrost and decaying gas hydrate deposits.
  Concentrations in the Arctic atmosphere are higher by 8–10% than that in the Antarctic atmosphere. During cold glacier epochs, this gradient decreases to practically insignificant levels. Land ecosystems are considered the main sources of this asymmetry, although it has been suggested that "the role of the Arctic Ocean is significantly underestimated."  Soil temperature and moisture levels have been found to be significant variables in soil methane fluxes in tundra environments.
caption: Arctic methane concentrations up to October 2019. A monthly peak of 2000 ppb was reached in October 2019.
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