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Global levels of carbon dioxide pass ‘daunting, disturbing’ milestone

WASHINGTON — Global levels of carbon dioxide, the most prevalent heat-trapping gas, have passed a daunting milestone, federal scientists say.

A member of NOAA preparing air sample canisters before shipping to sampling sites worldwide. Federal scientists say carbon dioxide is increasing at a record pace. Photo: AP

A member of NOAA preparing air sample canisters before shipping to sampling sites worldwide. Federal scientists say carbon dioxide is increasing at a record pace. Photo: AP

WASHINGTON — Global levels of carbon dioxide, the most prevalent heat-trapping gas, have passed a daunting milestone, federal scientists say.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said in March, the global monthly average for carbon dioxide hit 400.83 parts per million (ppm). That is the first month in modern records that the entire globe broke 400ppm, reaching levels that have not been seen in about two million years.

“It’s both disturbing and daunting,” said NOAA chief greenhouse gas scientist Pieter Tans. “Daunting from the standpoint on how hard it is to slow this down.”

He said it is disturbing because it is happening at a pace so fast that it seems like an explosion compared with Earth’s slow-moving natural changes.

Carbon dioxide is not just higher, it is also increasing at a record pace: 100 times faster than natural rises in the past, Dr Tans said.

Pushed by the burning of coal, oil and gas, global carbon dioxide is 18 per cent higher than it was in 1980, when NOAA first calculated a worldwide average. In 35 years, carbon dioxide levels have risen 61ppm.

In pre-human times, it took about 6,000 years for carbon dioxide to rise about 80ppm, Dr Tans said.

Monthly levels fluctuate with the season, peaking in May and then decreasing as plants absorb carbon dioxide. But they are increasing on a year-to-year basis. Levels are also higher in the Northern Hemisphere because that is where carbon dioxide is being spewed by power plants and vehicles, Dr Tans said.

The first time levels passed the 400ppm milestone was for just a few weeks in the Arctic in 2012. Last year, the monthly Northern Hemisphere average measured in Hawaii exceeded 400ppm and now the global average has as well, said head of NOAA’s global monitoring division James Butler. AP

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