(UPDATED*) AP, a few others: 2006 CO2 levels were a new record (well duh)
A small flurry of news stories a few days ago noted that in 2006 carbon dioxide hit a record new high for the instrumented records (and probably the highest it’s been, they say, in many millenniums ). This from the World Meteorological Organization. But, for the duration of the Keeling Curve maintained for the last half century or so from Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, CO2 has set a record every year. At least, eyeballing the inset curve reproduced to the right (hi res here), no clear year of decline is apparent. Maybe about 1965? Every year it drops a bit as Northern Hemisphere forests inspire CO2 during spring and summer, then it shoots to a new record in fall and winter as dropped, decomposing foliage returns the metabolized CO2 — plus the annual fossil fuel garnish.
The Tracker can find no news account that points out for readers who don’t pay much attention to climate data that a new record for the Keeling Curve — while not quite like checking the calendar on January 1. Hey! Highest-numbered year so far! — delivers scant surprise.
Stories:
AFP (via Globe and Mail); AP Eliane Engeler with important info, other than the raw record, on the changing mix among all greenhouse gases ; Reuters Alister Doyle also with some of the subtleties in the ever-climbing CO2 stats in context of other GH gases ;
Tip of the Hat: The Tracker missed this news as it broke, caught up after checking in with the Climate Progress blog and seeing its item.
Grist for the Mill:
World Meteorological Organization Greenhouse Gas Bulletin which notes the record but puts higher emphasis on the recent acceleration in CO2 levels; WMO Press Release ;
ALSO SEE: PNAS Article (Oct. 27) on accelerating CO2.
*LATE ADDITION (Dec 3): BBC Helen Briggs with “50 years on: The Keeling Curve legacy”. She, wisely it seems from here, calls the curve a scientific icon that ranks with the double helix and E=mc².
Other CO2 news: The Boston Globe and its correspondent (freelancer) Jennifer Cutraro yesterday brought news of a novel amelioration proposal. A Harvard grad student is publishing a paper on a scheme to alter sea water, making it slightly more alkaline, and thus speeding up its absorption of CO2. The result would be, in essence, an acceleration of the natural weathering of rock and the consequent buildup of carbonate minerals. It doesn’t say, but who knows – maybe it could help ameliorate ocean acidification and the dissolution of corals and plankton exoskeletons too?
-CP
November 28th, 2007 at 11:06 am
Charlie,
Interesting you should mention that apparent “sag” in the trajectory of the Keeling curve about 1965. It comes on the heels of the only gap in the data. As Ken Chang at the Times reported in his fine Keeling obit in June 2005, federal science funders cut off his funding, and so there is no data from February through April 1964.
Chang quoted Dr. F. Sherwood Rowland on the subject: “His government funding sources told him in effect that ‘You have shown that atmospheric carbon dioxide is increasing, now find some other interesting science to do.’ He fought to continue his measurement series, with support from many other scientists, and was back taking data in May of 1964.”
Maybe we should think of that sag you see in 1965 as “anthropogenic” in origin…