Abstract
The 1–2% increase in tropospheric methane determined from gas Chromatographic measurements since 1977 has important implications for atmospheric photochemistry and climate. To extend the measurement baseline, we have analysed solar absorption spectra and determined mean troposphere CH4 mixing ratios for the years 1951 and 1981, and find an average rate of CH4 increase of 1.1±0.2% per year for this period.
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Rinsland, C., Levine, J. & Miles, T. Concentration of methane in the troposphere deduced from 1951 infrared solar spectra. Nature 318, 245–249 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1038/318245a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/318245a0
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