Nature & Environment
There Is No Turning Back From Global Warming
Brooke James
First Posted: Sep 30, 2016 06:19 AM EDT
Carbon dioxide has long been tagged as the gas that is most responsible for Global Warming, and it seems that for the first time ever, the planet's atmosphere had remained steady above 400 parts per million of the gas - meaning that it has crossed dangerous levels.
According to the World Meteorological Organization, increase in gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide fuels climate change, and makes the planet "more dangerous and inhospitable for future generations." Increase in these gases also enhances the natural "greenhouse effect." Ralph Keeling of the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii said that the Earth will not see a monthly value below 400 ppm of carbon dioxide this year, or any other year in the near future.
The last time this happened, based on paleoclimactic evidence, was around 4.5 million years ago. Prior to the Industrial Revolution in the late 1800s, CO2 levels were at 280 ppm, but USA Today stated that burning of oil, gas, and coal for energy has released greenhouse gasses to such an extent that they caused the Earth's temperature to rise again over the past century. Things will not get better any time soon, either. Keeling noted that by November, we miught be pushing it to new heights and break the 410 ppm barrier.
Climate Central also noted that there are hopeful signs from world leaders as they take action to reduce gas emissions, but those actions have to happen faster - especially considering that they are trying to avoid another two degrees Celcius increase in the temperature to keep the earth safe for living organisms to live. Still, despite the benchmark, repercussions are already in effect: low-lying, small-island states are already likely to be doomed, and extreme heatwaves, droughts, coastal flooding, and extinction of many coral reefs are expected in the future.
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First Posted: Sep 30, 2016 06:19 AM EDT
Carbon dioxide has long been tagged as the gas that is most responsible for Global Warming, and it seems that for the first time ever, the planet's atmosphere had remained steady above 400 parts per million of the gas - meaning that it has crossed dangerous levels.
According to the World Meteorological Organization, increase in gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide fuels climate change, and makes the planet "more dangerous and inhospitable for future generations." Increase in these gases also enhances the natural "greenhouse effect." Ralph Keeling of the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii said that the Earth will not see a monthly value below 400 ppm of carbon dioxide this year, or any other year in the near future.
The last time this happened, based on paleoclimactic evidence, was around 4.5 million years ago. Prior to the Industrial Revolution in the late 1800s, CO2 levels were at 280 ppm, but USA Today stated that burning of oil, gas, and coal for energy has released greenhouse gasses to such an extent that they caused the Earth's temperature to rise again over the past century. Things will not get better any time soon, either. Keeling noted that by November, we miught be pushing it to new heights and break the 410 ppm barrier.
Climate Central also noted that there are hopeful signs from world leaders as they take action to reduce gas emissions, but those actions have to happen faster - especially considering that they are trying to avoid another two degrees Celcius increase in the temperature to keep the earth safe for living organisms to live. Still, despite the benchmark, repercussions are already in effect: low-lying, small-island states are already likely to be doomed, and extreme heatwaves, droughts, coastal flooding, and extinction of many coral reefs are expected in the future.
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone