Methane

Methane is a <a href="/facts/Chemical_compound/37FXqqtv">chemical compound</a> with the <a href="/facts/Chemical_formula/hghUtthl">chemical formula</a> CH4 (one <a href="/facts/Carbon/ukrgQexo">carbon</a> atom bonded to four <a href="/facts/Hydrogen/BoYHjl0J">hydrogen</a> atoms). It is a <a href="/facts/Group-14_hydride/FJCJfUtm">group-14 hydride</a>, the simplest <a href="/facts/Alkane/Qam7Hvmf">alkane</a>, and the main constituent of <a href="/facts/Natural_gas/9MYQ7NAP">natural gas</a>. The abundance of methane on <a href="/facts/Earth/HLLmDfj0">Earth</a> makes it an economically attractive <a href="/facts/Fuel/H8DIRL1j">fuel</a>, although capturing and storing it is difficult because it is a <a href="/facts/Gas/hVVAoodV">gas</a> at <a href="/facts/Standard_temperature_and_pressure/JhJv9KFJ">standard temperature and pressure</a>. In the Earth's atmosphere methane is transparent to visible light but absorbs <a href="/facts/Infrared_radiation/44XdJNcc">infrared radiation</a>, acting as a <a href="/facts/Greenhouse_gas/HXaHqrT8">greenhouse gas</a>. Methane is an <a href="/facts/Organic_chemistry/djxhxaNg">organic</a> <a href="/facts/Organic_compound/gqCNaN45">compound</a>, and among the simplest of organic compounds. Methane is also a <a href="/facts/Hydrocarbon/Dcg95Ju5">hydrocarbon</a>.
Naturally occurring methane is found both below ground and under the <a href="/facts/Seafloor/VvxuEWJu">seafloor</a> and is formed by both geological and biological processes. The largest <a href="/facts/Reservoir/2FewszmR">reservoir</a> of methane is under the seafloor in the form of <a href="/facts/Methane_clathrate/s1USL49e">methane clathrates</a>. When methane reaches the surface and the <a href="/facts/Atmosphere_of_Earth/FV97Am25">atmosphere</a>, it is known as <a href="/facts/Atmospheric_methane/oH20tvwB">atmospheric methane</a>.
The Earth's atmospheric methane concentration <a href="/facts/Methane_emissions/IrclnYfB">has increased</a> by about 160% since 1750, with the overwhelming percentage caused by human activity. It accounted for 20% of the total <a href="/facts/Radiative_forcing/VSLpzv66">radiative forcing</a> from all of the long-lived and globally mixed <a href="/facts/Greenhouse_gas/HXaHqrT8">greenhouse gases</a>, according to the 2021 <a href="/facts/Intergovernmental_Panel_on_Climate_Change/sh76du1u">Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change</a> report. Strong, rapid and sustained reductions in methane emissions could limit near-term warming and improve air quality by reducing global surface ozone.
Methane has also been detected on other planets, including <a href="/facts/Mars/AQGtVvz0">Mars</a>, which has implications for <a href="/facts/Astrobiology/GS1tFhrf">astrobiology</a> research.

Methane open-in-new

Methane