Methane (CH₄) is a potent greenhouse gas, and its atmospheric concentrations have tripled since the industrial revolution. This study presents a spatially explicit global estimate of CH₄ emissions from rivers and streams, totaling 27.9 (16.7–39.7) Tg CH₄ per year. Riverine CH₄ emissions show a weak temperature dependence, unlike lakes and wetlands. High emissions are observed in tropical and high-latitude regions, driven by factors such as organic matter supply, water saturation, and anoxic conditions in and near fluvial habitats. The study highlights the importance of land-water connections in regulating CH₄ emissions and the vulnerability of these emissions to climate change responses and human modifications.

Gerard Rocher-Ros, Emily H. Stanley, Luke C. Loken, Nora J. Casson, Peter A. Raymond, Shaoda Liu, Giuseppe Amatulli, Ryan A. Sponseller