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

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.