Publication Abstracts

Fung et al. 1991

Fung, I., J. John, J. Lerner, E. Matthews, M. Prather, L.P. Steele, and P.J. Fraser, 1991: Three-dimensional model synthesis of the global methane cycle. J. Geophys. Res., 96, 13033-13065, doi:10.1029/91JD01247.

The geographic and seasonal emission distributions of the major sources and sinks of atmospheric methane were compiled using methane flux measurements and energy and agricultural statistics in conjunction with global digital data bases of land surface characteristics and anthropogenic activities. Chemical destruction of methane in the atmosphere was calculated using three-dimensional OH fields every 5 days taken from Spivakovsky et al. (1990a, b). The signatures of each of the sources and sinks in the atmosphere were simulated using a global three-dimensional tracer transport model. Candidate methane budget scenarios were constructed according to mass balance of methane and its carbon isotopes. The verisimilitude of the scenarios was tested by their ability to reproduce the meridional gradient and seasonal variations of methane in the atmosphere. Constraints imposed by all the atmospheric observations are satisfied simultaneously by several budget scenarios. A preferred budget scenario comprises annual destruction rates of 450 Tg by OH oxidation and 10 Tg by soil absorption and annual emission of 80 Tg from fossil sources, 80 Tg from domestic animals, and 35 Tg from wetlands and tundra poleward of 50°N. Emissions from landfills, tropical swamps, rice fields, biomass burning, and termites total 295 Tg; however, the individual contributions of these terms cannot be determined uniquely because of the lack of measurements of direct fluxes and of atmospheric methane variations in regions where these sources are concentrated.

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BibTeX Citation

@article{fu08000d,
  author={Fung, I. and John, J. and Lerner, J. and Matthews, E. and Prather, M. and Steele, L. P. and Fraser, P. J.},
  title={Three-dimensional model synthesis of the global methane cycle},
  year={1991},
  journal={Journal of Geophysical Research},
  volume={96},
  pages={13033--13065},
  doi={10.1029/91JD01247},
}

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RIS Citation

TY  - JOUR
ID  - fu08000d
AU  - Fung, I.
AU  - John, J.
AU  - Lerner, J.
AU  - Matthews, E.
AU  - Prather, M.
AU  - Steele, L. P.
AU  - Fraser, P. J.
PY  - 1991
TI  - Three-dimensional model synthesis of the global methane cycle
JA  - J. Geophys. Res.
JO  - Journal of Geophysical Research
VL  - 96
SP  - 13033
EP  - 13065
DO  - 10.1029/91JD01247
ER  -

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