A Complicated Future for a Methane-Cleansing Molecule

Highlights

• Lamont-Doherty and MIT researchers found that warming could slightly increase the atmosphere’s supply of hydroxyl radicals, key molecules that help break down methane.
• While higher water vapor boosts these radicals, rising emissions from trees and other plants work in the opposite direction, making the overall effect more complex.
• Hydroxyl radicals also help remove ozone and other air pollutants, so the findings matter for both climate and air quality. Methane is a powerful...