Science and Space

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Present CO2 level in atmosphere highest in the last 650,000 years

A new European studies looking at ice taken from 3km below the surface of Antarctica indicates current levels of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere are higher now than at any time in the last 650,000 years.

The evidence on atmospheric concentrations comes from an Antarctic region called Dome Concordia (Dome C). Over a five year period commencing in 1999, scientists working with the European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica (Epica) have drilled 3,270m into the Dome C ice, which equates to drilling nearly 900,000 years back in time.

Gas bubbles trapped as the ice formed yield important evidence of the mixture of gases present in the atmosphere at that time, and of temperature.

It is found that CO2 is about 30% higher than at any time, and methane 130% higher than at any time; and the rates of increase are absolutely exceptional: for CO2, 200 times faster than at any time in the last 650,000 years.

Another study claims that for the last 150 years, sea levels have been rising twice as fast as in previous centuries. They calculate the present rate of rise at 2mm per year.

posted by: kyawoo at 10:54 | link | comments (1) |
earth

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#1  28 November 2005 - 11:11

 

An eye-opener.

Jackal

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