# Explain why scientists are concerned about increasing levels of methane in the Earth's atmosphere.

> Eduqas GCSE Chemistry — C9 Chemistry of the atmosphere · Explain · 4 marks

> Methane is a greenhouse gas produced by a number of natural and human-related sources. Its concentration in the atmosphere has more than doubled since pre-industrial times.

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Methane is a greenhouse gas / methane absorbs (infra-red) radiation
2. Higher methane concentration means more infra-red radiation is absorbed / more heat is trapped in the atmosphere
3. This leads to an enhanced greenhouse effect / causes global warming / causes the average temperature of the Earth to rise
4. This could lead to climate change / melting of polar ice caps / rising sea levels / more extreme weather events

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