why is methane important
NASA Earth Observatory. download large image (4 MB, PDF). Methane is an important trace gas in Earthâs atmosphere. Even though it only makes up 0.00017% (1.7 parts per million by volume) of the the atmosphere, methane traps a significant amount of heat, helping the planet remain warm and habitable.ASA Earth Observatory. download large image (4 MB, PDF). Methane is an important trace gas in Earthâs atmosphere. Even though it only makes up 0.00017% (1.7 parts per million by volume) of the the atmosphere, methane traps a significant amount of heat, helping the planet remain warm and habitable.