Thanks to humanity’s strive towards a high-tech mutual suicide, the level of Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere just surpassed 415 parts per million to land at 415.26 PPM.
This staggering and in fact alarming level of CO2 is the highest not only in the recorded history but since we stumbled upon this planet.
According to the data provided by NOAA’s observatory in Mauna Loa, the concentration of CO2 was recorded as 409.92 ppm on Jan. 1, 2019 compared to 407.05 ppm on Jan. 1, 2018. During the course of the year, the level of the pollutant increased by 2.87 parts per million (ppm).
This is the first time in human history our planet’s atmosphere has had more than 415ppm CO2.
Not just in recorded history, not just since the invention of agriculture 10,000 years ago. Since before modern humans existed millions of years ago.
We don’t know a planet like this. https://t.co/azVukskDWr
— Eric Holthaus (@EricHolthaus) May 12, 2019
415.26 parts per million (ppm) CO2 in air 11-May-2019 https://t.co/MGD5CTru41 First daily baseline over 415ppm
— Keeling_Curve (@Keeling_curve) May 12, 2019
Why Only Blame CO2?
While there are other heat-trapping gasses like Methane and nitrous oxide that contribute to global warming, CO2 does most of the job and its contribution is expected to increase. Data shows that Carbon dioxide constitutes 72% of the emitted greenhouse gasses. Besides this, CO2 also stays longer in the atmosphere_somewhere around 100-200 years. Methane on the other hand lingers for a decade while nitrous oxide lurks around for a century.
How much CO2 is too much Co2?
The concentration of CO2 has already crossed the too much-limit. Scientists estimate that over 100 animal and plant species are on the verge of extinction due to global warming.
Recent investigations have revealed that inconceivable catastrophic changes in the atmosphere will definitely occur if the global temperature increases by 2° C (3.6° F). An increase in the global temperature by 2° C (3.6° F) means a carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration of about 450 ppm (parts per million) in the atmosphere. So, probably not too much left unless strong precautionary measures to curb the emission of CO2 are undertaken.