News Climate

Methane may not warm the Earth quite as much as previously thought

The gas absorbs both longwave and shortwave radiation, with competing effects on climate

A photo of three cows standing in a grassy field behind a small body of water where their reflections are seen.

Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is emitted through a number of human activities, including cattle farming.

George Pachantouris/Moment/Getty Images

By Douglas Fox

Methane is a greenhouse gas with dual personalities. It heats Earth’s atmosphere 28 times as potently as carbon dioxide, gram for gram. But its absorption of the sun’s radiation high in the atmosphere also alters cloud patterns — casting a bit of shadow on its warming effect.