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Encyclopedia of Geobiology pp 578–586Cite as

Methane, Origin

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Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series ((EESS))

Definition

Methane is a colorless and odorless gas, with the chemical formula CH4. Due to its radiative force, it is a strong greenhouse gas and contributes to the warming of the earth. It is formed in the environment by methanogenesis. The main natural sources are wetlands and termites (30% of total emissions), while anthropogenic sources include rice fields, cattle farming, and energy production (70% of total emissions).

General aspects

Methane is a colorless and odorless gas and the major component (97% vol.) of natural gas. Methane has a boiling point of −161°C at a pressure of one atmosphere. As a gas, it is flammable only over a narrow range of concentrations (5–15%) in air. It is mainly produced by microorganisms (methanogens) under anoxic conditions in a process called methanogenesis. These conditions exist under water-covered soils, such as rice paddies, tundra, swamps, and marshes, but also in freshwater and marine sediments. Other anoxic environments include ruminant...

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Seestrasse 79, 6047, Kastanienbaum, Switzerland

    Carsten J. Schubert

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  1. Carsten J. Schubert
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  1. University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany

    Joachim Reitner  & Volker Thiel  & 

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Schubert, C.J. (2011). Methane, Origin. In: Reitner, J., Thiel, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Geobiology. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9212-1_138

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