IB Environmental systems and societies Topic 2.3D Methane Revision Notes (HL)

IB Environmental systems and societies Topic 2.3D Methane Revision Notes (HL) | RevisionDojo

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Methane: A Short-Lived but Powerful Greenhouse Gas

Methane (CH₄) is a potent greenhouse gas, with a global warming potential over 80 times that of carbon dioxide (CO₂) across a 20-year period.
It plays a critical role in both the carbon cycle and climate change.

Tip

Methane is a short-lived climate pollutant, with a residence time of about 10 years.
Even so, its immediate warming effect is far greater than that of carbon dioxide.

Methane Forms Where Oxygen Is Scarce

When dead organic material decomposes under anaerobic (oxygen-poor) conditions, carbon is converted into methane by methanogenic microbes.
This process, called methanogenesis, is part of the carbon cycle: it temporarily stores carbon as methane before it is oxidised back to CO₂.

Definition

Methanogenesis

Methanogenesis is the biological process by which methanogenic archaea (bacteria-like microorganisms) produce methane (CH₄) from organic material in anaerobic environments.

The methane can later escape into the atmosphere or accumulate underground in natural gas deposits.

Organic matter → simple organic acids → CO₂ + H₂ → CH₄ (methane)

Note

Methanogens are not bacteria; they belong to the domain Archaea.
They are among the few organisms that can produce methane.

Conditions for Methane Production

Methane forms where oxygen is extremely low and organic matter piles up.
These conditions block complete aerobic decomposition, letting methanogens thrive.
Key environments include:
1. Swamps and wetlands: submerged plant material creates ideal anaerobic conditions.
2. Rice paddies: flooded fields restrict oxygen, so residues decompose to methane.
3. Landfills: buried organic waste decomposes anaerobically.

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IB Environmental systems and societies 2.3D Methane Notes

Methane: A Short-Lived but Powerful Greenhouse Gas

Methane Forms Where Oxygen Is Scarce

Conditions for Methane Production

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Methane: A Short-Lived but Powerful Greenhouse Gas

Methane Forms Where Oxygen Is Scarce

Conditions for Methane Production

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Topic 1: Foundation 3 subtopics

Topic 2: Ecology5 subtopics

Topic 3: Conservation and biodiversity3 subtopics

Topic 4: Water4 subtopics

Topic 5: Land2 subtopics

Topic 6: Atmosphere and climate change4 subtopics

Topic 7: Natural resources3 subtopics

Topic 8: Human populations and urban systems3 subtopics

HL lenses 3 subtopics

IB Environmental systems and societies 2.3D Methane Notes

Topic 1: Foundation 3 subtopics

Topic 2: Ecology5 subtopics

Topic 3: Conservation and biodiversity3 subtopics

Topic 4: Water4 subtopics

Topic 5: Land2 subtopics

Topic 6: Atmosphere and climate change4 subtopics

Topic 7: Natural resources3 subtopics

Topic 8: Human populations and urban systems3 subtopics

HL lenses 3 subtopics

Methane: A Short-Lived but Powerful Greenhouse Gas

Methane Forms Where Oxygen Is Scarce

Conditions for Methane Production

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Methane: A Short-Lived but Powerful Greenhouse Gas

Methane Forms Where Oxygen Is Scarce

Conditions for Methane Production

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account