During 2016 the concentration of carbon dioxide or CO2 in the atmosphere broke a new historical record. It was such that the Earth had not known a similar situation between 3 and 5 million years ago. At that time, the global average temperature was between 2 and 3ºC higher and the sea level was 10 to 20 meters higher than it is today.
What is the reason for this increase in the level of CO2? We tell you.
Since the Industrial Revolution (1750), humanity has undergone many changes that have allowed it to grow and live a comfortable life. In doing so, it began to use the land intensively, deforesting forests and exploiting fossil fuels for energy purposes. All of it, Although at first we believed that it would not have any negative effect on the planet, little by little we are realizing that we were wrongIn this context, the impact of global warming, which is related to the increase in gas emissions, must also be considered. For a deeper look into this aspect, you can consult the article on global warming and its effects.
According to the Finnish Petteri Taalas, Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), »if we do not rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, mainly CO2, we will face a dangerous rise in temperature in the remainder of the century, well above the target set in the Paris Climate Agreement." To better understand the situation, it is essential to explore the various factors affecting global warming, such as the role of permafrost, which is beginning to release large amounts of carbon. This phenomenon has been documented in several studies, including the case of the permafrost flowing like lava.
And the fact is, the levels are only increasing. If in 2015 the carbon dioxide concentration was 400,00 parts per million (ppm), in 2016 it reached 403,3ppm, which represents 145% of what it was in the pre-industrial era (before 1750). This increase is alarming and highlights the need for greater awareness about climate change and its consequences.
To understand how CO2 concentrations vary in the atmosphere, researchers take samples from ancient ice cores and analyze them. They have been able to discover that, unless drastic measures are taken to prevent it, the world we know will be very different from the one future generations will experience. For example, rising temperatures could have a devastating impact on areas like deserts, which are threatened by global warming. To learn more about how warming affects these ecosystems, you can read about deserts threatened by global warming.
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