Atmospheric Methane Removal as a Third Climate Intervention: Termination Risks and Air Pollutant Effects - Preprint

[Geoengineering News]

https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.17462

Authors: Katsumasa Tanaka, Weiwei Xiong, Didier A. Hauglustaine, Daniel J.A. Johansson, Nico Bauer, Philippe Bousquet, Philippe Ciais, Renaud de Richter, Marianne T. Lund, Ragnhild Skeie, Eric Zusman

24 January 2026

Abstract 

Atmospheric Methane Removal (AMR) is a third class of climate intervention, along with Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) and Solar Radiation Management (SRM). We show that, unlike CDR, the avoided warming by AMR is not durable due to methane's short atmospheric lifetime, although its temperature rebound upon termination is less abrupt than that of SRM. AMR's unique impact on air quality (tropospheric ozone) can be further modulated by background pollutant levels.

Source: ArXiv