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Methane is an organic compound, and among the simplest of organic compounds. Methane is also a hydrocarbon. Naturally occurring methane is found both below ground and under the seafloor and is formed by both geological and biological processes.
While natural wildfires can contribute to methane emissions, the bulk majority of biomass burning occurs as a result of humans – including everything from accidental burnings by civilians to deliberate burnings used to clear out land to biomass burnings occurring as a result of destroying waste.
Natural gas burning on a gas stove Burning of natural gas coming out of the ground. Natural gas (also called fossil gas, methane gas, or simply gas) is a naturally occurring mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons consisting primarily of methane (95%) [1] in addition to various smaller amounts of other higher alkanes.
Methane, a strong but short-lived greenhouse gas, is produced from a range of sources, including natural wetlands, agriculture and fossil fuel production.
A heat map of the planet showing methane emissions from wetlands from 1980 to 2021. Greenhouse gas emissions from wetlands of concern consist primarily of methane and nitrous oxide emissions. Wetlands are the largest natural source of atmospheric methane in the world, and are therefore a major area of concern with respect to climate change.
Ball-and-stick model of the methane molecule, CH 4. Methane is part of a homologous series known as the alkanes, which contain single bonds only. In organic chemistry, a hydrocarbon is an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon. [1]: 620 Hydrocarbons are examples of group 14 hydrides.
Methane emissions in the atmosphere come from natural wetlands, agriculture, livestock, landfills and leaks and intentional flaring of natural gas in the oil and gas industry.
There are two possible types of sources - natural or anthropogenic. Natural sources are caused by processes that occur in nature. In contrast, anthropogenic sources are caused by human activity. Some sources of a trace gas are biogenic processes, outgassing from solid Earth, ocean emissions, industrial emissions, and in situ formation. [1]