Global Carbon Dioxide Levels Topped 400 PPM Throughout March In Unprecedented Milestone

[hazlnut]

Global Carbon Dioxide Levels Topped 400 PPM Throughout March In Unprecedented Milestone

Average global levels of carbon dioxide stayed above 400 parts per million, or ppm, through all of March 2015 -- the first time that has happened for an entire month since record keeping first began, according to data released this week by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Scientists with NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory have called the news a "significant milestone" in the growing scourge of man-made climate change.

“This marks the fact that humans burning fossil fuels have caused global carbon dioxide concentrations to rise more than 120ppm since pre-industrial times,” Pieter Tans, lead scientist of NOAA's greenhouse gas network, told The Guardian on Wednesday. “Half of that rise has occurred since 1980.”

 

[martybegan]

Most of the increase is attributed to the Hot Air being exhausted through the bloviating of AGW cult members.

 

[paulitician]

You're gonna die from something. Seriously, it's true. But the odds of you dying from the Global Warming Boogeyman are incredibly slim. You're gonna die from some other cause. So the hysterical fear mongering just isn't necessary. Life is short. Live it to the fullest. Stop living in fear.

 

[Toddsterpatriot]

Unprecedented. Except for all the previous times in Earth's history when it was 400 PPM or much, much higher.

 

[jknowgood]

Global Carbon Dioxide Levels Topped 400 PPM Throughout March In Unprecedented Milestone

Average global levels of carbon dioxide stayed above 400 parts per million, or ppm, through all of March 2015 -- the first time that has happened for an entire month since record keeping first began, according to data released this week by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Scientists with NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory have called the news a "significant milestone" in the growing scourge of man-made climate change.

“This marks the fact that humans burning fossil fuels have caused global carbon dioxide concentrations to rise more than 120ppm since pre-industrial times,” Pieter Tans, lead scientist of NOAA's greenhouse gas network, told The Guardian on Wednesday. “Half of that rise has occurred since 1980.”

Do your part, hold your breath eternally.

 

[Treeshepherd]

I think CO2 at 400 ppm is ideal. I'm a lover of plants and trees, which actually reach maximum growth at 1500 ppm.

My best friend keeps telling me that the climate is broken. I couldn't disagree more. This is the best climate one could possibly hope for, given the geological record over the last million years. Interglacial periods, like the one we're in now, come along every 100,000 years or so, and they only last about 20,000 years or less. If anything, we're due for an 85,000 year cooling period.

Climate change, to many, simply and solely refers to the effects of CO2 on climate. People need to expand their horizons to include Milankovich cycles, ocean oscillations, solar activity, and chaos theory. Those are main drivers of climate. CO2 is a backseat driver that has enough influence to maybe force a bathroom stop here and there, but it isn't going to ultimately change where we're headed.

 

[Skylar]

Well, Trees approach has the benefit of at least acknowledging Climate Change and the effects of CO2......disputing only the degree of change and other factors.

The problem is that many of these factors are interdependent. Take the ocean currents as they exist now. Many are based on a particular degree of salination of water near Antarctica. It acts as the primary engine of sea convection,.drawing water downward due to its higher density. However, small changes in temperature due to CO2 can melt ice sheets which pour enormous quantities of fresh water directly into the convection belts, diluting the salination process that drives them.

This can have dramatic impacts on the distribution of heat from the oceans. Take...the UK. Its at the same latitude as southern Alaska or central Russia. Yet its unusually warm. This is caused largely by warm water currents pushed by the convection belt that pour tremendous amounts of heat into the regions. Disrupt or even displace the convection belts and the UK temperatures plunge. For all intents and purposes, permanently. With other pretty significant changes probable for any other region that gets a significant portion of its warmth from the oceans.

There's also the snow balling effects of methane. There's huge quantities of methane in deep water and permafrost. But its locked up because of the low temperatures. Raise the temperatures even a little and you get periods of defrosting of some permafrost. And the release of massive amounts of methane. Methane is a hugely efficient greenhouse gas in its own right. Its release will only speed the process of further warming.

 

[Skylar]

Unprecedented. Except for all the previous times in Earth's history when it was 400 PPM or much, much higher.

You need to actually read the article, not just the headline:

Specifically, the passage 'the first time that has happened for an entire month since record keeping first began'.

 

[Toddsterpatriot]

Unprecedented. Except for all the previous times in Earth's history when it was 400 PPM or much, much higher.

You need to actually read the article, not just the headline:

Specifically, the passage 'the first time that has happened for an entire month since record keeping first began'.

It's true, liberals whine about stuff that's happened before.
It's like they think history started when they were born.
"Oh, we must prevent the climate from changing, ever". LOL!

 

[Skylar]

Unprecedented. Except for all the previous times in Earth's history when it was 400 PPM or much, much higher.

You need to actually read the article, not just the headline:

Specifically, the passage 'the first time that has happened for an entire month since record keeping first began'.

It's true, liberals whine about stuff that's happened before.
It's like they think history started when they were born.
"Oh, we must prevent the climate from changing, ever". LOL!

Our direct records on atmospheric CO2 levels certainly began when we started recording it.

I don't see how measuring the atmosphere is 'liberal'.

 

[Toddsterpatriot]

Well, Trees approach has the benefit of at least acknowledging Climate Change and the effects of CO2......disputing only the degree of change and other factors.

The problem is that many of these factors are interdependent. Take the ocean currents as they exist now. Many are based on a particular degree of salination of water near Antarctica. It acts as the primary engine of sea convection,.drawing water downward due to its higher density. However, small changes in temperature due to CO2 can melt ice sheets which pour enormous quantities of fresh water directly into the convection belts, diluting the salination process that drives them.

This can have dramatic impacts on the distribution of heat from the oceans. Take...the UK. Its at the same latitude as southern Alaska or central Russia. Yet its unusually warm. This is caused largely by warm water currents pushed by the convection belt that pour tremendous amounts of heat into the regions. Disrupt or even displace the convection belts and the UK temperatures plunge. For all intents and purposes, permanently. With other pretty significant changes probable for any other region that gets a significant portion of its warmth from the oceans.

There's also the snow balling effects of methane. There's huge quantities of methane in deep water and permafrost. But its locked up because of the low temperatures. Raise the temperatures even a little and you get periods of defrosting of some permafrost. And the release of massive amounts of methane. Methane is a hugely efficient greenhouse gas in its own right. Its release will only speed the process of further warming.

Methane is a hugely efficient greenhouse gas in its own right. Its release will only speed the process of further warming.

The last time there was a release of methane, the Earth turned into Venus.
Everything died.

 

[Treeshepherd]

Unprecedented. Except for all the previous times in Earth's history when it was 400 PPM or much, much higher.

You need to actually read the article, not just the headline:

Specifically, the passage 'the first time that has happened for an entire month since record keeping first began'.

Off the top of my head, 400 ppm is higher than it ever was during the last 4 or 5 interglacial periods. Still, water vapor is the dominant greenhouse gas, more so than CO2 or CH4. It's within the realm of possibility that current CO2 levels have an insignificant impact of climate. If I had to guess, I'd say the effect is modest.

 

[Skylar]

Well, Trees approach has the benefit of at least acknowledging Climate Change and the effects of CO2......disputing only the degree of change and other factors.

The problem is that many of these factors are interdependent. Take the ocean currents as they exist now. Many are based on a particular degree of salination of water near Antarctica. It acts as the primary engine of sea convection,.drawing water downward due to its higher density. However, small changes in temperature due to CO2 can melt ice sheets which pour enormous quantities of fresh water directly into the convection belts, diluting the salination process that drives them.

This can have dramatic impacts on the distribution of heat from the oceans. Take...the UK. Its at the same latitude as southern Alaska or central Russia. Yet its unusually warm. This is caused largely by warm water currents pushed by the convection belt that pour tremendous amounts of heat into the regions. Disrupt or even displace the convection belts and the UK temperatures plunge. For all intents and purposes, permanently. With other pretty significant changes probable for any other region that gets a significant portion of its warmth from the oceans.

There's also the snow balling effects of methane. There's huge quantities of methane in deep water and permafrost. But its locked up because of the low temperatures. Raise the temperatures even a little and you get periods of defrosting of some permafrost. And the release of massive amounts of methane. Methane is a hugely efficient greenhouse gas in its own right. Its release will only speed the process of further warming.

Methane is a hugely efficient greenhouse gas in its own right. Its release will only speed the process of further warming.

The last time there was a release of methane, the Earth turned into Venus.
Everything died.

And when was this exactly?

 

[Skylar]

Unprecedented. Except for all the previous times in Earth's history when it was 400 PPM or much, much higher.

You need to actually read the article, not just the headline:

Specifically, the passage 'the first time that has happened for an entire month since record keeping first began'.

Off the top of my head, 400 ppm is higher than it ever was during the last 4 or 5 interglacial periods. Still, water vapor is the dominant greenhouse gas, more so than CO2 or CH4. It's within the realm of possibility that current CO2 levels have an insignificant impact of climate. If I had to guess, I'd say the effect is modest.

Higher temperatures mean the atmosphere can hold more water. So even slight increases in temperature can snowball. CO2 alone need not be the sole factor. It can increase the presence of other factors......like lower sea water density, higher atmopsheric methane and higher atmospheric water vapor.

Which each contributing it own impacts on the climate.

 

[Toddsterpatriot]

Unprecedented. Except for all the previous times in Earth's history when it was 400 PPM or much, much higher.

You need to actually read the article, not just the headline:

Specifically, the passage 'the first time that has happened for an entire month since record keeping first began'.

It's true, liberals whine about stuff that's happened before.
It's like they think history started when they were born.
"Oh, we must prevent the climate from changing, ever". LOL!

Our direct records on atmospheric CO2 levels certainly began when we started recording it.

I don't see how measuring the atmosphere is 'liberal'.

 

[Toddsterpatriot]

Well, Trees approach has the benefit of at least acknowledging Climate Change and the effects of CO2......disputing only the degree of change and other factors.

The problem is that many of these factors are interdependent. Take the ocean currents as they exist now. Many are based on a particular degree of salination of water near Antarctica. It acts as the primary engine of sea convection,.drawing water downward due to its higher density. However, small changes in temperature due to CO2 can melt ice sheets which pour enormous quantities of fresh water directly into the convection belts, diluting the salination process that drives them.

This can have dramatic impacts on the distribution of heat from the oceans. Take...the UK. Its at the same latitude as southern Alaska or central Russia. Yet its unusually warm. This is caused largely by warm water currents pushed by the convection belt that pour tremendous amounts of heat into the regions. Disrupt or even displace the convection belts and the UK temperatures plunge. For all intents and purposes, permanently. With other pretty significant changes probable for any other region that gets a significant portion of its warmth from the oceans.

There's also the snow balling effects of methane. There's huge quantities of methane in deep water and permafrost. But its locked up because of the low temperatures. Raise the temperatures even a little and you get periods of defrosting of some permafrost. And the release of massive amounts of methane. Methane is a hugely efficient greenhouse gas in its own right. Its release will only speed the process of further warming.

Methane is a hugely efficient greenhouse gas in its own right. Its release will only speed the process of further warming.

The last time there was a release of methane, the Earth turned into Venus.
Everything died.

And when was this exactly?

Who cares, it killed everything, didn't it?

 

[Toddsterpatriot]

Unprecedented. Except for all the previous times in Earth's history when it was 400 PPM or much, much higher.

You need to actually read the article, not just the headline:

Specifically, the passage 'the first time that has happened for an entire month since record keeping first began'.

Off the top of my head, 400 ppm is higher than it ever was during the last 4 or 5 interglacial periods. Still, water vapor is the dominant greenhouse gas, more so than CO2 or CH4. It's within the realm of possibility that current CO2 levels have an insignificant impact of climate. If I had to guess, I'd say the effect is modest.

Higher temperatures mean the atmosphere can hold more water. So even slight increases in temperature can snowball. CO2 alone need not be the sole factor. It can increase the presence of other factors......like lower sea water density, higher atmopsheric methane and higher atmospheric water vapor.

Which each contributing it own impacts on the climate.

Higher temperatures mean the atmosphere can hold more water. So even slight increases in temperature can snowball.

Exactly! Soon it will be hot enough to melt lead.

 

[Skylar]

Unprecedented. Except for all the previous times in Earth's history when it was 400 PPM or much, much higher.

You need to actually read the article, not just the headline:

Specifically, the passage 'the first time that has happened for an entire month since record keeping first began'.

Off the top of my head, 400 ppm is higher than it ever was during the last 4 or 5 interglacial periods. Still, water vapor is the dominant greenhouse gas, more so than CO2 or CH4. It's within the realm of possibility that current CO2 levels have an insignificant impact of climate. If I had to guess, I'd say the effect is modest.

Higher temperatures mean the atmosphere can hold more water. So even slight increases in temperature can snowball. CO2 alone need not be the sole factor. It can increase the presence of other factors......like lower sea water density, higher atmopsheric methane and higher atmospheric water vapor.

Which each contributing it own impacts on the climate.

Higher temperatures mean the atmosphere can hold more water. So even slight increases in temperature can snowball.

Exactly! Soon it will be hot enough to melt lead.

Define 'soon'.

 

[Treeshepherd]

Take...the UK. Its at the same latitude as southern Alaska or central Russia. Yet its unusually warm. This is caused largely by warm water currents pushed by the convection belt that pour tremendous amounts of heat into the regions. Disrupt or even displace the convection belts and the UK temperatures plunge. For all intents and purposes, permanently. With other pretty significant changes probable for any other region that gets a significant portion of its warmth from the oceans.

Everything is interdependent. I agree with that. You have to parse out and separate interdependent forcings in order to talk about them.

You've got your North Atlantic Oscillation, Arctic Oscillation, and these are tied into the meta dynamics of all the oceans' heat pumps. They change over time, independent of CO2 levels.

 

[Skylar]

Well, Trees approach has the benefit of at least acknowledging Climate Change and the effects of CO2......disputing only the degree of change and other factors.

The problem is that many of these factors are interdependent. Take the ocean currents as they exist now. Many are based on a particular degree of salination of water near Antarctica. It acts as the primary engine of sea convection,.drawing water downward due to its higher density. However, small changes in temperature due to CO2 can melt ice sheets which pour enormous quantities of fresh water directly into the convection belts, diluting the salination process that drives them.

This can have dramatic impacts on the distribution of heat from the oceans. Take...the UK. Its at the same latitude as southern Alaska or central Russia. Yet its unusually warm. This is caused largely by warm water currents pushed by the convection belt that pour tremendous amounts of heat into the regions. Disrupt or even displace the convection belts and the UK temperatures plunge. For all intents and purposes, permanently. With other pretty significant changes probable for any other region that gets a significant portion of its warmth from the oceans.

There's also the snow balling effects of methane. There's huge quantities of methane in deep water and permafrost. But its locked up because of the low temperatures. Raise the temperatures even a little and you get periods of defrosting of some permafrost. And the release of massive amounts of methane. Methane is a hugely efficient greenhouse gas in its own right. Its release will only speed the process of further warming.

Methane is a hugely efficient greenhouse gas in its own right. Its release will only speed the process of further warming.

The last time there was a release of methane, the Earth turned into Venus.
Everything died.

And when was this exactly?

Who cares, it killed everything, didn't it?

Says who?