Articles | Volume 19, issue 5
https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-19-1081-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-19-1081-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Atmospheric methane since the last glacial maximum was driven by wetland sources
Thomas Kleinen
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, Bundesstr. 53, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
Sergey Gromov
Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Hahn-Meitner-Weg 1, 55128 Mainz, Germany
Benedikt Steil
Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Hahn-Meitner-Weg 1, 55128 Mainz, Germany
Victor Brovkin
Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, Bundesstr. 53, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
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Cited
16 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Chronological features of Heinrich Stadial 2 based on a high-resolution analysis of δ18O stalagmite records from China, and possible links to changes in Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation Y. Cui et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2023.111875
- Unravelling the tree cover dynamics over the last 20 000 years on the Northern Hemisphere A. Dallmeyer et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-22-1125-2026
- Machine-learning-based estimates of global natural vegetated wetland methane emissions (2000–2025) M. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-3507-2026
- Global Methane Budget 2000–2020 M. Saunois et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-17-1873-2025
- Abrupt changes in biomass burning during the last glacial period B. Riddell-Young et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-08363-3
- Emergent constraints on future methane emissions from global wetlands Z. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-026-01987-2
- Simulating long-term wildfire impacts on boreal forest structure in Central Yakutia, Siberia, since the Last Glacial Maximum R. Glückler et al. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42408-023-00238-8
- Tropical vegetation productivity and atmospheric methane over the last 40,000 years from model simulations and stalagmites in Sulawesi, Indonesia C. Krause et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/qua.2023.75
- The Marine Isotopic Stage 7: a relic of the “41 ka world”? Perspectives from a global-scale sea-surface temperature synthesis E. Legrain et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-22-1223-2026
- Towards spatio-temporal comparison of simulated and reconstructed sea surface temperatures for the last deglaciation N. Weitzel et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-20-865-2024
- Patterns of changing surface climate variability from the Last Glacial Maximum to present in transient model simulations E. Ziegler et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-21-627-2025
- Pattern scaling of simulated vegetation change in northern Africa during glacial cycles M. Duque-Villegas et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-21-773-2025
- Climate tipping point interactions and cascades: a review N. Wunderling et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-15-41-2024
- Late Glacial and Holocene vegetation and lake changes in SW Yakutia, Siberia, inferred from sedaDNA, pollen, and XRF data I. Baisheva et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2024.1354284
- Atmospheric methane variability through the Last Glacial Maximum and deglaciation mainly controlled by tropical sources B. Riddell-Young et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-023-01332-x
- Ensemble estimates of global wetland methane emissions over 2000–2020 Z. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-305-2025
16 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Chronological features of Heinrich Stadial 2 based on a high-resolution analysis of δ18O stalagmite records from China, and possible links to changes in Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation Y. Cui et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2023.111875
- Unravelling the tree cover dynamics over the last 20 000 years on the Northern Hemisphere A. Dallmeyer et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-22-1125-2026
- Machine-learning-based estimates of global natural vegetated wetland methane emissions (2000–2025) M. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-3507-2026
- Global Methane Budget 2000–2020 M. Saunois et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-17-1873-2025
- Abrupt changes in biomass burning during the last glacial period B. Riddell-Young et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-08363-3
- Emergent constraints on future methane emissions from global wetlands Z. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-026-01987-2
- Simulating long-term wildfire impacts on boreal forest structure in Central Yakutia, Siberia, since the Last Glacial Maximum R. Glückler et al. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42408-023-00238-8
- Tropical vegetation productivity and atmospheric methane over the last 40,000 years from model simulations and stalagmites in Sulawesi, Indonesia C. Krause et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/qua.2023.75
- The Marine Isotopic Stage 7: a relic of the “41 ka world”? Perspectives from a global-scale sea-surface temperature synthesis E. Legrain et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-22-1223-2026
- Towards spatio-temporal comparison of simulated and reconstructed sea surface temperatures for the last deglaciation N. Weitzel et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-20-865-2024
- Patterns of changing surface climate variability from the Last Glacial Maximum to present in transient model simulations E. Ziegler et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-21-627-2025
- Pattern scaling of simulated vegetation change in northern Africa during glacial cycles M. Duque-Villegas et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-21-773-2025
- Climate tipping point interactions and cascades: a review N. Wunderling et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-15-41-2024
- Late Glacial and Holocene vegetation and lake changes in SW Yakutia, Siberia, inferred from sedaDNA, pollen, and XRF data I. Baisheva et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2024.1354284
- Atmospheric methane variability through the Last Glacial Maximum and deglaciation mainly controlled by tropical sources B. Riddell-Young et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-023-01332-x
- Ensemble estimates of global wetland methane emissions over 2000–2020 Z. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-305-2025
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 10 Aug 2026
Short summary
We modelled atmospheric methane continuously from the last glacial maximum to the present using a state-of-the-art Earth system model. Our model results compare well with reconstructions from ice cores and improve our understanding of a very intriguing period of Earth system history, the deglaciation, when atmospheric methane changed quickly and strongly. Deglacial methane changes are driven by emissions from tropical wetlands, with wetlands in high northern latitudes being secondary.
We modelled atmospheric methane continuously from the last glacial maximum to the present using...