September 2016 might forever be remembered as the beginning of a new era for carbon dioxide emissions. Scientists at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii reported that the worldwide average of atmospheric carbon dioxide is just above 400 parts per million (ppm). In comparison to the last 400,000 years, levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere had never peaked above 300 ppm until 1950 according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
There are a couple of reasons why the 400 ppm average could be historic. Firstly, in September carbon dioxide levels are typically at their lowest due to the growth of vegetation and the use of carbon dioxide via plants. Secondly, the earth may never again see levels below 400 ppm—ever.
[There’s] a pretty clear chain of causation from human activities to carbon dioxide levels to climate change.
Sunlight passes through the atmosphere and warms the earth’s surface, and the earth radiates heat outward toward space. Greenhouse gases absorb the radiant heat from earth and emit it in all directions, further warming the planet. While climate change has become an issue of political debate, some doubt that climate change is even real or influenced by human activities. Yet scientists from around the world have supported the position that human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation and a number of other processes, have contributed to the increase of greenhouse gases.
Over the last 150 years, the levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide have increased from 280 ppm to 400 ppm, and this change is believed to be the reason for warmer temperatures over the last 50 years, according to NASA. Blackburn professor of chemistry Dr. Mark Armstrong agreed and stated that there is “a pretty clear chain of causation from human activities to carbon dioxide levels to climate change.”
Since the Industrial Revolution, particularly after the steam engine came about in 1712, levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have risen dramatically according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). With the advent of the steam engine and increased mining and burning of coal for energy to support mass production, more greenhouse gases accumulated in the atmosphere. Specifically carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, fluorinated gases and water vapor in the atmosphere have contributed to climate change.
Scientists believe that carbon dioxide levels may never decrease below 400 ppm unless the rates of carbon emissions are significantly decreased. Even if carbon emissions were to dramatically decrease, carbon dioxide can remain in the atmosphere for thousands of years, meaning that the average levels in the atmosphere would not begin to decrease for years according to the EPA.
To help reduce carbon emissions and learn about your carbon footprint, visit www3.epa.gov/carbon-footprint-calculator.