Abstract: THE APPLICATION OF ACCELERATOR MASS SPECTROMETRY IN THE RESEARCH OF ATMOSPHERIC METHANEShao Min；Tang Xiaoyan（The Center Of Environmental Sciences,Peking University,100871）ABSTRACT~(13)C and ~(14)C data provide characteristic information in the study of the sources of atmosphericmethane.Though atmospheric methane sources are comprehensive and complex with great uncertain-ties in their emission fluxes，accellerator mass spectrometry（AMS）solves the measurement problem ofthe ~(13)C and ~(14)C ratios in ambient samples.With these data，it is possible to find out the signatures ofmethane sources accurately，so as to make sure the main sources of methane and the relative contribu-tion fraction of anthropogenic and natural sources to the atmosphere. Key words accellerator mass spectrometry carbon isotopes atmoopheric methane