CHN-CH4: A Gridded (0.1°×0.1°) Anthropogenic Methane Emission Inventory of China from 1990 to 2020

Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, possessing a warming potential that is 28 times greater than that of carbon dioxide over a 100-year period. China, as the largest emitter of methane globally, contributes an estimated 15.65% of global emissions, primarily driven by activities such as coal mining, agricultural practices, and livestock production. Using satellite products and national statistical databases, we present a spatially aggregated 0.1°×0.1° anthropogenic methane emission inventory for mainland China, termed by CHN-CH4, with the unit of Mg CH4 per km2 per year. This inventory allows for the evaluation of trends from 1990-2020, categorized by eight major source sectors: 1) rice cultivation, 2) livestock, 3) biomass and biofuel burning, 4) coal exploitation, 5) oil and natural gas (NG) systems, 6) fossil fuel consumption, 7) landfills, and 8) wastewater. We incorporated recent proxy data, preferably long-term remote sensing data to ensure maximum comparability.