
Apparently we have already reached dangerous levels when it comes to climate changes. Which will cause catastrophes with unimagined proportions. And it is obviously to late, trying to stop it now.
“A prehistoric climate” For the first time in four million years, carbon dioxide levels now reach above 400 parts per million in the atmosphere (PPM). – Alarming, says climate expert Pär Holmgren. See image above, the highest possible level 2008 was 386. Think!
Towards prehistoric climate?
To understand what a content of 400 ppm means comparing scientists with a historical time, Pliocene, which occurred 3-5 million years ago. It is judged by the Earth experienced a carbon content equal to what we are heading for now. Where did the CO2 concentration 415 ppm.
During the Pliocene, the global temperature three to four degrees higher than today. At the poles, it was perhaps as much as ten degrees warmer. The great ice sheets of Greenland and Antaktis had not been formed and the sea level was 5-40 meters higher than today.
Follow daily updates of CO2 concentration on Twitter: @ Keeling_curve Pär Holmgren, meteorologist and climate expert Pär Holmgren, meteorologist and climate expert. That was yesterday, May 9, as the record high measured at 400 ppm was made, which is thus a maximum concentration of carbon dioxide measured in the atmosphere since the start of the measurements in 1958.
- We are creating a prehistoric climate, with huge and potentially catastrophic risks to human societies, says Bob Ward, director of the Grantham Institute at the prestigious London School of Economics, which focuses on research into climate change, reports news agency TT.
Unequivocal proof
Since 1958, the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere at a mountaintop in Hawaii. U.S. Agency NOAA measures the particular conditions of the Pacific Ocean, from the volcano Mauna Loa, and that is where they measured a record level.
- It does not matter to the climate here and now today, but it’s more that there is a very clear threshold as we pass. We passed 300 in the early 1900s and today, as it increases by about 2 parts per million per year, so unfortunately it’s an increase that is also accelerating, says Pär Holmgren, meteorologist and climate expert.
The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has steadily increased since NOAA began measuring, but the last ten years, the growth rate accelerated.
- The evidence is clear – it is the sharp increase in carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas that is causing this increase, says Pieter Tans, a researcher at NOAA, in a press release.
Increases hundred times faster

Carbon dioxide accounts for two-thirds of the greenhouse effect, even though it represents only 0.04 percent of the air. When the survey started measured approximately 317 ppm. By then, 180 years of industrial revolution already yields to rise from about 280 ppm.
If the rapid growth that has occurred over the past decade continues, then the carbon dioxide that might pass 500 ppm already in the middle of this century.
- It is all simply in the wrong direction right now, says Pär Holmgren.
Over the past 800 000 years, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere fluctuated between about 180 ppm during ice ages and 280 ppm during warm periods. But today’s increase is more than hundred times faster than the increase that occurred when the last ice age ended.
- What is happening now is still an open question, it depends on the climate and is still something we can control. Key question remains how much we are going to continue to rely on fossil fuels as an energy source, says scientist Ralph Keeling.
Must remove emissions made
If warming should be kept below 2 degrees is the goal, the levels back down to 350 ppm, according to many scientists, that is a level we have already passed. It considers Pär Holmgren is realistic.
-Yes it is perfectly reasonable if we would have an entirely fossil-free society, and also eventually develop technology that can remove the emissions that we have already done. But the longer it goes the harder it will become, and the more money it will cost and the more advanced technology we will need.
- The fundamental problem with climate change is that they are so slow and sluggish, so we will not see the full effect of the emissions we have done until now only in the order of a thousand years. That is why it is actually very frightening and alarming that we pass additional border now.
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