Global CO2 level surpasses 400 mark, poses serious environmental threat: NOAA.
World’s biggest
environmental problem, global warming is on its heights, as a new report
from National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has warned that
global CO2 (major contributor to global warming) emission has break all the
records by reaching 400 parts per million (ppm) mark in March 2015. The report
suggests that it is the highest ever concentration of CO2 in recent history.
Pieter Tans, lead
researcher NOAA’s Global Greenhouse Gas Reference Network, said this isn’t the
first time that CO2 level has surpassed 400 ppm mark. Back in 2012 Arctic sites
were recorded with over 400 ppm of CO2 level. However, surpassing the mark on
the global scale is a significant milestone, said Tans.
Researchers blame
burning fossil fuels in excess either for industries or for transportation as a
prime reason behind rising CO2 level. Scientists also addressed the fact that
the major rise in concentration of CO2 was seen after industrialization.
According to reports, global carbon dioxide concentrations which used to
be under 300 ppm have seen a rise of more than 120 parts per million since
pre-industrial times.
World is already
facing several unpredictable environmental changes including melting of
glaciers, global rise of water level, unprecedented temperature variation,
increasing air-related diseases, etc. This report has further increased the
woes for entire world. This is also a major cause of worry for India, as most
of the agriculture depends on rain, and non-uniform rain due to global warming
would ruin the crops. Also, if nothing is done to control the CO2
concentration, Himalayas will melt causing drastic weather changes and rise in
sea level.
The research was
based on samples of air collected from 40 sites globally. “We choose to
sample at these sites because the atmosphere itself serves to average out gas
concentrations that are being affected by human and natural forces. At these
remote sites we get a better global average,” noted Ed Dlugokencky, the NOAA
scientist who manages the global network.
Moreover, NOAA is
an American scientific agency which focuses on the conditions on Oceans and the
atmosphere. NOAA also warns of dangerous weather, charts seas and skies, guides
the use and protection of ocean and coastal resources, and conducts research to
improve understanding and stewardship of the environment.
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