Earth Sciences

The large role of declining atmospheric sulfate deposition and rising CO2 concentrations in stimulating future wetland CH₄ emissions

L. Shen, S. Peng, et al.

Using data-driven estimates from 2000–2100, this study shows that biogeochemical feedbacks—especially falling sulfate deposition under clean-air policies and CO₂ fertilization—could drive 30–45% of future wetland methane increases, adding 20–34 Tg yr⁻¹ by 2100 under 1.5–2°C pathways and shrinking the allowable anthropogenic methane budget. Research conducted by Lu Shen, Shushi Peng, Zhen Zhang, Chuan Tong, Jintai Lin, Yang Li, Huiru Zhong, Shuang Ma, Minghao Zhuang, and Vincent Gauci.