Approaching Steady-State Atmospheric Methane in the Anthropocene

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Approaching Steady-State Atmospheric Methane in the Anthropocene

Joe Sabol Chemical Consultant
December 15, 2025

PACIFICHEM
December 15-20, 2025
Honolulu, Hawaii

Approaching Steady-State Atmospheric Methane in the Anthropocene

The current atmospheric concentration of methane is greater than 2.00 ppm and increasing faster than at any time since record keeping began in the 1980s. Methane is second in terms of contribution to the greenhouse gas inventory (between carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide) and accounts for about 30% of the cumulative global warming since the industrial revolution, but nearly 50% of the current radiative forcing. Natural gas (methane) and liquified natural gas (LNG) are useful fuels and chemical feedstocks and easily transported via an established infrastructure. The 2025 market value of methane and LNG is projected to be greater than US$120B and grow at least 10% per year. Methane’s savior is its mean atmospheric lifetime, 10-12 years, but increasing due to reduction in atmospheric concentration of species involved in destruction mechanisms. This decade atmospheric half-life (vs. century-long atmospheric lifetime for carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide) can provide a near-term opportunity to mitigate global warming, but the imbalance between natural sources and sinks must be reduced if we are to make any significant impact by 2030. This symposium includes methane sources and sinks, measurement, control, and use technology, climate modeling, regulatory impacts, and market supply and demand.

Late abstracts can be added up to October 8, 2025.

PACIFICHEM 2025

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Two good reads on climate disruption:

1) Computer-assisted classification of contrarian claims about climate change
Coan, T.G., Boussalis, C., Cook, J. et al. Sci Rep 11, 22320 (2021).
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-01714-4

2) Climate déjà vu
Science, Vol 387, Issue 6733, p. 455 (21 Jan 2025)
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adw1532

Good Indoor Air Quality requires adequate fresh air exchange. Avoid poorly ventilated indoor areas. Prudent monitoring includes temperature, humidity, carbon monoxide CO, carbon dioxide CO2, volatile organic compounds VOCs, formaldehyde H2CO, and particulates PM2.5. If you do not have a personal monitor, request one from the library of things at your local library.

MERV 13 filters and KN95 masks can slow spreading of aerosols. Observe public health regulations. Prudent practice, including vaccines to provide defense mechanisms.

Michigan Air Quality Dashboard
https://air-egle.hub.arcgis.com/

Wisconsin Air Quality Monitor
https://airquality.wi.gov/home/map

Purple Air
https://www2.purpleair.com/

Local wastewater monitoring is useful in the detection of viruses and other substances of concern in public health. Wisconsin Wastewater Monitoring Program
https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/wastewater.htm

Conference Organization

ACS Fall 2026, Chicago, August 23-27
JOINT ENFL & GEOC
Atmospheric Methane: Sources, Sinks, and Solutions
https://callforabstracts.acs.org/acsfall2026

ACS Spring 2026, Atlanta, March 22-26
JOINT ENFL, ENVR, GEOC, I&EC
Methane: Chemistry of a Greenhouse Gas

Atlantic Basin Conference on Chemistry
ABCChem December 2026
Chemical engineering process technology research for global sustainability
https://abcchem.org/

Pacifichem 2025
Honolulu, December 15-20
Approaching Steady-State Atmospheric Methane in the Anthropocene
https://pacifichem.org

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