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As far as radiative forcing (it's ability to trap radiation, and therefore warm the Earth via greenhouse effect), methane is 21 times stronger than CO2. However, Methane's lifespan in the atmosphere is only about 12 years, whereas CO2 gets complicated due to all the cycles it participates in but is generally on the order of a century. Additionally, there's a whole lot less methane in the atmosphere, so in the end, CO2 is doing more to warm the Earth than methane is.

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How many times worse is methane compared to carbon dioxide?

Methane is roughly 25 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide over a 100-year period. This means that, molecule for molecule, methane has a significantly higher global warming potential than carbon dioxide.


Is carbon dioxide the only gas causing global warming?

No, but carbon dioxide is the main gas. Methane is the next most important gas causing global warming. Methane is more than twenty times more powerful than carbon dioxide, but not so plentiful. Methane comes from cattle, as well as from melting lakes and tundra.


What has more energy rich bonds carbon dioxide or methane?

methane


What is burning methane?

Burning methane is a chemical reaction where methane gas (CH4) is combined with oxygen (O2) to produce carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). This reaction releases energy in the form of heat and light, making it a common method for generating heat or electricity. However, burning methane also produces carbon dioxide emissions, contributing to climate change.


Methane is 10x more potent than carbon dioxide?

20x


How are greenhouse gases produced and are they more or less of a problem than carbon dioxide?

The greenhouse gases that are causing global warming are carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). This carbon dioxide comes from burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) in industry, transport and the generation of electricity. The methane comes from rotting organic material in landfills, pig and cattle farms and from melting tundra and lakes. Methane is a greenhouse gas twenty-one times more dangerous, than carbon dioxide, but there is much more carbon dioxide.


When methane is burnt does it produce more carbon dioxide than natural gas?

Methane is practically the same as natural gas. When 1 molecule of methane (CH4) is burnt in oxygen it produces 1 molecule of carbon dioxide (CO2) and two molecules of water (H2O). If the methane is NOT burnt it causes twenty times more damage as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. (So keep lighting those farts!)


How many more times heat does methane trap than carbon dioxide?

It is 21 times more effective than carbon dioxide in blocking escaping radiant heat.


How can you reduce the impact of burning methane on global warming?

We can stop burning methane. Actually burning methane is better than letting it escape into the atmosphere. Methane, when burnt, emits carbon dioxide, a powerful greenhouse gas, but methane, when released into the air, is twenty-one times more dangerous.


Which molecule does the element carbon makeup in the atmosphere?

Carbon dioxide, methane are the two more common compounds.


Which gas will diffuse faster methane or carbon dioxide?

Helium diffuses twice faster as Methane does.


Does natural gas release carbon when burned?

Yes, it does. Natural gas is methane, a fossil fuel greenhouse gas 21 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. So when it escapes into the atmosphere it is very damaging. And when it is burnt it emits carbon dioxide, another greenhouse gas.