5 ms·

Do you know what the half life of methane in the atmosphere is? I did a search for it but couldn't find it.

• wahern 6y ago
  9.1 years according to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmospheric_methane https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmospheric_methane
  • nvader 6y ago
    That's funny. https://www.foodsource.org.uk/building-blocks/agricultural-methane-and-its-role-greenhouse-gas https://www.foodsource.org.uk/building-blocks/agricultural-m... claims > it is a relatively short-lived GHG, with emissions breaking down after an average of around 10 years. Looks like someone didn't understand what half-life means, or is being misleading.
    • projektfu 6y ago
      On average, a molecule of methane breaks down in less than 10 years. That is a true interpretation.
      • 07t15 6y ago
        Half life implies that one half of the mehane molecules decay in that period (or that a single one has a 50% of decaying).
      • scaredginger 6y ago
        Depends on what 'average' you mean I guess. It is true for the median of course. However, if the time for an individual molecule to decay is exponentially distributed, you can solve for lambda to find its expected lifetime is 13.1 years. That being said, I'd say this is a less useful interpretation.
• deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]