Aerobic methane production is a recent discovery. While biomethanation usually only occurs under anoxic conditions, the generation of methane in an oxygenated environment under near-ambient conditions was discovered in 2006.^[1] Although the emissions are smaller than the initial extrapolations, results clearly show the existence of a non-microbial CH₄ production. Temperature and ultraviolet light are key factors involved in the aerobic generation of CH₄ from organic matter. ^[2]

Aerobic methane production was discovered when David Karl, an Oceanographerin the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology at the University of Hawaii at M noa wondered about the exce of methane in the atmosphere. The discovery led to the idea that methylphosphonates that were discovred in the 1960's, that creates a certain type of bacteria which can lead to methane production.^[3]

References