World CO2 levels at record high, scientists warn

#172290Mon 12/05/08 22:26

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/may/12/climatechange.carbonemissions

The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has reached a record high, according to new figures that renew fears that climate change could begin to slide out of control.

Scientists at the Mauna Loa observatory in Hawaii say that CO2 levels in the atmosphere now stand at 387 parts per million (ppm), up almost 40% since the industrial revolution and the highest for at least the last 650,000 years.

The figures, published by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on its website, also confirm that carbon dioxide, the chief greenhouse gas, is accumulating in the atmosphere faster than expected. The annual mean growth rate for 2007 was 2.14ppm – the fourth year in the past six to see an annual rise greater than 2ppm. From 1970 to 2000, the concentration rose by about 1.5ppm each year, but since 2000 the annual rise has leapt to an average 2.1ppm.

Scientists say the shift could indicate that the Earth is losing its natural ability to soak up billions of tons of carbon each year. Climate models assume that about half our future emissions will be re-absorbed by forests and oceans, but the new figures confirm this may be too optimistic. If more of our carbon pollution stays in the atmosphere, it means emissions will have to be cut by more than currently projected to prevent dangerous levels of global warming.

Martin Parry, co-chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's working group on impacts, said: "Despite all the talk, the situation is getting worse. Levels of greenhouse gases continue to rise in the atmosphere and the rate of that rise is accelerating. We are already seeing the impacts of climate change and the scale of those impacts will also accelerate, until we decide to do something about it."

NEWS: www.heatisonline.org

SCIENCE: www.realclimate.org

DO SOMETHING: www.enoughsenough.org
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#172290Mon 12/05/08 22:37

Incidentally, notice the news today - the first 10 days of this May are the hottest first ten days of May in mid england on record.

#124052Mon 12/05/08 22:39

quoting > "
The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has reached a record high"

Surely every day it reaches a new record high what with it constantly rising these days ?

tavdyMon 12/05/08 23:12

quoting > "Surely every day it reaches a new record high what with it constantly rising these days ?"

CO2 levels tend to vary depending on location, season, rainfall, etc.; in countries like Norway, Scotland, Canada and northern Russia, CO2 release levels are highest during the Winter because fuel is burnt to heat homes. Likewise hotter areas - the southern US, southern Europe, Australia, the Middle East - see a Summer spike because of air-con use. A wet Spring (like the one we just had) will have a major effect on CO2 levels because it boosts plant growth, a major CO2 sink, for the rest of the year; meanwhile there's no plant growth in Winter in temperate areas, so no CO2 sequestration. CO2 are generally higher in the northern hemisphere, because that's where over 80% of all humans, and therefore the vast majority of agriculture and industry, are.