Science and citizens collaborate to understand natural methane removal

How does Saharan dust remove the powerful greenhouse gas methane from the atmosphere above the Atlantic Ocean? Recently, Utrecht University and other institutes started a research project in collaboration with the shipping industry to answer this question. Once every month, boxes of flasks arrive on the sixth floor of the Buys Ballot building at Utrecht University. They contain air samples from remote regions of the Atlantic Ocean taken by crew members of Maersk and Stolt tankers. PhD candidate Chloe Brashear receives them for analysis in the lab. By now, approximately 550 flasks have been analysed. Many more will follow, as the project will continue for a few more years. Natural methane removal.