Washington - The concentration of carbon dioxide in the Earth's
atmosphere has reached a record level, according to scientists at the
Scripps Institution of Oceanography who conducted readings at the
Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii.
The scientists said that the 415.26 parts per million (ppm) recorded
over the weekend was the first daily baseline reading coming in over
415 ppm.
The data is recorded as part of what is known as the Keeling Curve,
which tracks climate-warming greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Levels normally go higher in the Northern Hemisphere at this time of
the year.
415.26 parts per million (ppm) CO2 in air 11-May-2019 https://t.co/MGD5CTru41 First daily baseline over 415ppm
— Keeling_Curve (@Keeling_curve) May 12, 2019
The latest record comes on the heels of a report by scientists which
showed that CO2 emissions rose 1.7 per cent last year and hit a new
record, as global energy consumption continued to skyrocket.
Scientists connect greenhouse gas emissions to climate change and say
that human activity is releasing more greenhouse gases, creating
concerns about negative effects for life on the planet.