Interannual variability of Atmosphere Methane from (AIRS) data over Peninsular Malaysia: 2003-2009

Abstract

Methane (CH4) is a potent greenhouse gas and it's second in importance only to CO2 with relative global warming ability 23 times that of CO2 over a time horizon of 100 years. It has a much shorter atmospheric lifetime, about 12 years and released to the atmosphere by biological processes occurring in anaerobic environments. Interannual variations of the atmosphere CH4 have been studied utilising Atmosphere Infrared Sounder (AIRS), onboard NASA's Aqua Satellite, and data of CH4 emission in Peninsular Malaysia during the period 2003 - 2009. AIRS is one of several instruments onboard the Earth Observing System (EOS) launched on May 4, 2002. The analysis of CH4 above five dispersed stations in study area shows the seasonal variation in the CH4 fluctuated considerably between wet and dry period and high CH4 growth rates observed at the end of each year were attributed to the reduced hydroxyl (OH) sink and the increased emissions from wetlands and biomass burning. The CH4 value in the north regions, up of the latitude 4o, higher than its value in the rest of regions throughout the year. The CH4 values in dry season higher than wet season. The monthly CH4 maps were generated, to study CH4 distribution over peninsular Malaysia for 2009, using Kriging Interpolation technique. The AIRS data and the Satellite measurements are able to measure the increase of the atmosphere CH4 concentrations over different regions.