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Carbon dioxide levels today (July 24, 2016): 403.83 ppm ; parts per million.

Vaporous gas composition of the Earth's atmosphere near sea level:

Substance Symbol Concentration * duration + rank
Nitrogen N 780,840 114 years
1
Oxygen O2 209,480  
2
Argon Ar      9,340  
3
Carbon Dioxide CO2

404.1 **

variable from 20 to 120, or 200 years
4
Trace elements
 

 

Methane CH4             1.7 12 - 18 years
Hydrogen H2               .55  
6
Nitrogen Oxides NO               .251  
Nitrous Oxide N2O                .31 121 years
8
Carbon Monoxide CO               .1    
Ozone O3                .02    
Sulfur Dioxide SO2                .0002    
trifluoromethyl sulfur pentafluoride SF5 CF3                .00000012 ***    
Other inert gases              24.28    

*

Weekly trends in carbon dioxide concentration levels in the atmosphere.

Carbon dixide is measured in parts per million ppm, or ppmv (volume)

+

residency time in the atmosphere, how long a molecule, on average, stays active in solution, or in the air.

 

** The current measure: Mauna Loa is November 20, 2015 400.4 ppm or parts per million.

In 2013, CO2 accounted for about 82% of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions from human activities.

In 1969, CO2 Carbon dioxide measurement was 318 ppm.

Carbon dioxide measurement was 360 ppm in 1990.

Carbon dioxide measurement was 375 ppm circa 2004.

Carbon dioxide measurement was 383.1 ppm in 2007.

Carbon dioxide measurement was 394.45 ppm March, 2012.

Carbon dioxide measurement was 383.1 ppm April 2012.

Carbon dioxide measurement was 404.1 ppm in May 2015.

Today Carbon dioxide measurement is increasing at more than the 50 year average rate of 1.5 ppm /annum. In 2000-2007, green house gas content of the atmosphere was increasing at 2 ppm in bad years and 1.7 ppm in good years.

*** 7-24-2000 discovered by atmospheric chemists

 

Nitrous Oxide emissions or n2o

"In 2013, nitrous oxide (N2O) accounted for about 5% of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions from human activities."

114 year residence time in the atmosphere.

http://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/gases/n2o.html

"In 2013, methane, CH4 , accounted for about 10% of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions from human activities. Methane is emitted by natural sources such as wetlands, as well as human activities such as leakage from natural gas systems and the raising of livestock."

 



Sources: sources

U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA: Trends in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide web site,

• Monthly recent carbon dioxide at Mauna Loa

http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/trends/

• full range from 1958-present graphic

Atmospheric Chemistry and Global Change, Brasseur, Orlando, & Tyndall, eds. (New York: Oxford University Press, 1999). p. 9.

Mark Bush, Ecology of a Changing Planet. Upper Saddle River, N. J.: Prentice-Hall, 2000. pp. 361-368.

MIT: A lecture by Ronald Prinn

Tyler Volk. CO2 Rising: The World's Greatest Environmental Challenge, Cambridge, Mass. MIT Press, 2008. pp. 36-37.


 §§§ Impacts §§§



Page authored by
Dr. J. Siry

September 7, 2005– April 3, 2012– June 11, 2013– August 6, 2016

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