Carbon dioxide at record high, stoking warming: WMO - Reuters

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Carbon dioxide at record high, stoking warming: WMO
Fri Nov 23, 2007 11:15am EST

By Alister Doyle, Environment Correspondent

OSLO (Reuters) - Levels of carbon dioxide, the main
greenhouse gas emitted by burning fossil fuels, hit a
record high in the atmosphere in 2006, accelerating
global warming, the World Meteorological Organization
(WMO) said on Friday.

But concentrations of methane, the number two heat-
trapping gas, flattened out in a hint that Siberian
permafrost is staying frozen despite some scientists'
fears that rising temperatures might trigger a runaway
thaw.

"In 2006, globally averaged concentrations of carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere reached their highest levels
ever recorded," the WMO said. Carbon dioxide is the
main gas from human activities blamed by the U.N.
climate panel for stoking warming.

The WMO said levels rose 0.53 percent from 2005 to
381.2 parts per million of the atmosphere, 36 percent
above levels before the Industrial Revolution began
in the 18th century.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSL2325800120071123

[kestrel91316]

1. "......accelerating....." - the only word anybody really needs to get from

this article.

We are so screwed.

[OKIsItJustMe]

2. There's actually some good news...

http://www.wmo.ch/pages/prog/arep/gaw/ghg/documents/ghg-bulletin-3.pdf

...

Executive summary

The latest analysis of data from the WMO-GAW Global Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Network shows that the globally averaged mixing ratios of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) have reached new highs in 2006 with CO₂ at 381.2 ppm and N₂O at 320.1 ppb. Atmospheric growth rates in 2006 of these gases are consistent with recent years. The mixing ratio of methane (CH₄) remains almost unchanged at 1782 ppb. These values are higher than those in pre-industrial times by 36%, 19% and 155%, respectively. Methane growth has slowed during the past decade. The NOAA Annual Greenhouse Gas Index (AGGI) shows that from 1990 to 2006 the atmospheric radiative forcing by all long-lived greenhouse gases has increased by 22.7%. The combined radiative forcing by CFC-11 and CFC-12 exceeds that of N₂O. They are decreasing very slowly as a result of emission reductions under the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer.

...

[Systematic Chaos]

3. Sorry, but no.

Even if methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide levels leveled off today, when the skies cleared from all the soot dumped into the air the temperature would immediately increase by who knows how many degrees globally. It's gonna take more than that, by far, to make a difference now. :(

[OKIsItJustMe]

4. If you take the time to read the bulletin...

...you'll find that (for example) while CO₂ levels continue to increase, the rate of increase appears to have slowed somewhat. CH₄ levels actually decreased slightly; and CFC's are decreasing at a more significant rate.

http://www.wmo.ch/pages/prog/arep/gaw/ghg/documents/ghg-bulletin-3.pdf

I don't mean to imply that all is well; only that things are not as bad as they might be. It appears we may be having some effect (although not enough.)