🌍 The Methane Paradox: Why Did CH₄ Surge During Lockdown?

In 2020, the world shut down—but methane didn’t. Instead, it surged at a record 16.2 ppb/year, more than double the previous decade’s rate.Why?A Science study reveals a “perfect storm”:🧪 A temporary collapse of the atmosphere’s cleaning agent (OH radicals), responsible for 83% of the methane spike.🌧️ A La Niña–driven wetland boom that unleashed microbial methane.🧬 Isotopic fingerprints proving biology—not fossil fuels—dominated the surge.📄 Source: Why methane surged in the atmosphere during the early 2020s. Science, 5 Feb 2026, Vol 391, Issue 6785.Cleaner skies. Weaker self-cleaning atmosphere. Stronger climate feedbacks.What happens when nature accelerates faster than our emissions cuts?#Methane #ClimateScience #AtmosphericChemistry #LaNina #CarbonCycle #ClimateFeedback #SciencePodcast #GlobalMethanePledge #deepdivelab