Publication Abstracts

Chua et al. 2025

Chua, G., V. Naik, and L.W. Horowitz, 2025: Role of future climate change, air pollution control and methane mitigation in driving hydroxyl radical (OH) and methane lifetime. Geophys. Res. Lett., 53, no. 9, e2025GL120136, doi:10.1029/2025GL120136.

The hydroxyl radical (OH) determines the atmospheric lifetime of many pollutants like methane (CH4). This study isolates climate change, air pollution control and CH4 mitigation effects on OH concentrations ([OH]) and CH4 lifetime, by analyzing the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) Aerosol Chemistry Model Intercomparison Project (AerChemMIP) multi-model outputs for variants of the high-emission SSP3-7.0 scenario. Models agree that future warming increases [OH] and decreases CH4 lifetime, leading to a multi-model mean CH4-related negative climate feedback of -0.038 W/m2K. However, the overall trend in SSP3-7.0 is decreasing [OH] and increasing CH4 lifetime, confirming that changes in CH4 and other short-lived climate forcers (SLCFs) dominate over climate-related drivers. Meanwhile, air pollution controls, if not paired with CH4 reduction, can reduce [OH] and lengthen CH4 lifetime, potentially undermining climate efforts. In a cleaner-air future, CH4 mitigation will be essential to sustain higher [OH], shorten CH4 lifetime, and reduce its readiative forcing.

Export citation: [ BibTeX ] [ RIS ]

BibTeX Citation

@article{ch03710r,
  author={Chua, G. and Naik, V. and Horowitz, L. W.},
  title={Role of future climate change, air pollution control and methane mitigation in driving hydroxyl radical (OH) and methane lifetime},
  year={2025},
  journal={Geophysical Research Letters},
  volume={53},
  number={9},
  pages={e2025GL120136},
  doi={10.1029/2025GL120136},
}

[ Close ]

RIS Citation

TY  - JOUR
ID  - ch03710r
AU  - Chua, G.
AU  - Naik, V.
AU  - Horowitz, L. W.
PY  - 2025
TI  - Role of future climate change, air pollution control and methane mitigation in driving hydroxyl radical (OH) and methane lifetime
JA  - Geophys. Res. Lett.
JO  - Geophysical Research Letters
VL  - 53
IS  - 9
SP  - e2025GL120136
DO  - 10.1029/2025GL120136
ER  -

[ Close ]

• Return to 2025 Publications

• Return to Publications Homepage