Atmospheric methane lifetime during the Last Glacial Maximum was reduced owing to dust-mediated chlorine chemistry [Research article summary]
La durée de vie du méthane atmosphérique durant le dernier maximum glaciaire était réduite en raison de la chimie du chlore induite par les poussières
Meidan, Daphne ; Cuevas, Carlos A. ; Villamayor, Julián ; Fernandez, Rafael P. ; Cosentino, Nicolás J. ; Albani, Samuel ; Mahowald, Natalie M. ; Spolaor, Andrea ; Corella, Juan Pablo ; Mühl, Michaela ; Ayala, Jennifer Campos ; Grimmer, Markus ; Schmitt, Jochen ; Fischer, Hubertus ; Saiz-Lopez, Alfonso
Année de publication
2026
Atmospheric methane (CH4) plays a central role in Earth's climate, yet the drivers of its decline during the high-dust conditions of glacial periods, such as the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), remain uncertain. Previous explanations imply source-driven changes, assuming an atmospheric lifetime comparable to that of present day. Recent work shows that interactions between mineral dust and sea salt aerosols produce CH4-removing chlorine radicals. In this work, we show that during the LGM, CH4 lifetime shortened to 7.8 years, 20% lower than that of present day. Chlorine contributed ~15% of global CH4 loss, fourfold that of present day. Our results reproduce ice core CH4 isotopic evidence, demonstrating that stronger-than-assumed atmospheric sinks can explain CH4 variability without invoking substantial source changes, highlighting the overlooked role of chlorine chemistry in the glacial CH4 budget.</div>
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