Dr. Farquhar’s current research focuses on methane isotopologues (isotopic varieties of methane molecules) to study atmospheric methane today. This change is a result of the need to develop ways to understand factors that contribute to the rise of methane today (in the context of the recent past) and that control its concentration in the future – including developing and applying techniques to monitor society’s efforts to stem and reverse its rise.  The reason for this change is simply that methane is one of the targets that has the potential, if controlled, to impact the way Earth’s greenhouse contributes to global temperature rise and climate change. This is a new direction and draws on the recently acquired UMD Panorama.