Why did methane gas exhibit 10 years of virtually no increase?

Global Warming Examiner: Methane Gas in the atmosphere on the rise

Methane gas in our atmosphere rose by 27 million tons last year after 10 years of virtually no increase. There is now 5.6 billion tons of methane in the air. That represents an increase of only 0.125% but, methane is 25 times more potent at trapping heat than carbon dioxide.

Methane is the second most potent greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide, which increased by 0.6% last year.

Carbon Dioxide comes from burning fossil fuels. Methane comes from landfills, natural gas released in the atmosphere, animal waste, and decaying plants. It is ancient decaying plants that most worry scientists. These are plants that are frozen in northern permafrost that has trapped tremendous quantities of methane gas for millions of years. That permafrost is melting due to global warming and scientists are concerned that the methane gas will be released into the atmosphere. This creates a feedback loop where the released methane further raises temperatures, which then releases even more methane.