Methane is one of the most important anthropogenic greenhouse gases. It can enter the air from the fossil fuel industry, landfill sites, livestock farming and rice agriculture, and as a result of thawing permafrost. The map shows variations in methane concentrations around the world; the red and orange colours indicate high concentrations and the blue colours indicate low concentrations. The map is based on measurements from the Envisat mission between 2003 and 2009. The Copernicus Sentinel-5P mission will take over the role of measuring this atmospheric gas along with a multitude of other trace gases.