| Atmosphere Monthly | May 2010 |
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Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii (USA) Atmospheric CO2 was 392.39 parts per million (ppm) in April 2010, according to scientific data released May 10, 2010, by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the United States. Atmospheric CO2 was 389.46 ppm one year earlier in April 2009. 
capacity of the land and oceans to absorb it. The absorption of CO2 by oceans slows the rate of increase in atmosphere levels and raises the acidity of the oceans. |
You may have noticed that Atmosphere Monthly is starting to change. Some things are scaled back. Some additions and improvements have been made. It will take a few months for the changes to be complete. Also, work has started on an upcoming Wish for Zero special edition. Look for an upcoming special edition to focus on what people like Bill Gates are saying about the need and ways to get global emissions dropping quickly toward zero. The coming Wish for Zero special edition is, in fact, inspired by Bill Gate's recent TED Talk called Innovating to Zero. You can hear him by watching the video that is embedded further down in this newsletter. Thank you for reading through the May edition of Atmosphere Monthly. |
CO2 Data
April 2010: 392.39 parts per million (ppm)
April 2009: 389.46
April 2008: 387.18
April 2007: 386.36
April 2006: 384.65
April 2005: 382.20
April 2004: 380.42
April 2003: 377.75
April 2002: 374.93
April 2001: 373.32
April 2000: 371.63
April 1990: 356.10
April 1980: 340.86
April 1970: 328.14
April 1960: 319.02
April 1958: 317.45
High-precision instrument readings started March 1958 at the Mauna Loa Observatory. To learn more about the discovery of CO2 measurements, read about Dr. Dave Keeling of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
Data:
>> NOAA CO2 Trends [NOAA/Scripps data] [Scripps data]
>> Data Table (republished at CO2Now)
>> CO2 Rate of Change (processed at CO2Now)
Global Climate Update: Warmest April in 131 years
Data for this Global Climate Update is gathered by a number of leading scientific institutions around the world. The summary is based on a more a detailed State of the Climate Global Analysis by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the United States. A link to the more detailed NOAA report is found below.
Global Temperature
In the past 131 years, global surface temperature measurements for April were the warmest in April 2010. The global average includes land and ocean surface temperatures.
NOAA-NCDC | State of the Climate -- Global Analysis for April 2010 [latest month]
CO2Now | Global Temperature Update
Arctic Sea Ice Volume
Total Arctic Ice Volume for March 2010 is 20,300 km^3, the lowest over the 1979-2009 period and 38% below the 1979 maximum. September Ice Volume was lowest in 2009 at 5,800 km^3 or 67% below its 1979 maximum.
Polar Science Centre | Arctic Sea Ice Volume Anomoly
Climate Progress | Arctic sea ice volume now below 2007 levels; volume hits record low for March
Sea Ice Extent
Arctic sea ice extent was the 15th lowest for April since satellite records began in 1979. It was 2.1 percent or 310,000 square kilometres below the 1979 - 2000 average. April Arctic sea ice extent has decreased at an average rate of 2.6 percent per decade since 1979.
April 2010 Southern Hemisphere sea ice extent was 0.3 percent below the 1979–2000 average. Unlike the two previous years, which are the largest and second largest sea ice extent years, April 2010 was near average. Southern Hemisphere sea ice extent for April has increased at an average rate of 2.9 percent per decade.
NSDIC | Arctic Sea Ice News | Quick facts on Arctic (and Antarctic) sea ice | Ice FAQs
Sato & Hansen | Sea Ice Area
How do we know the Earth's climate is warming?
Many lines of scientific evidence show the Earth's climate is changing. NOAA’s National Climate Data Center presents seven global climate change indicators.
NOAA-NCDC | Global climate change indicators
Climate Progress | All the data you need to show that the world is warming
Innovating to Zero Can we end poverty and AIDS without ending the climate crisis? Bill Gates of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation says ‘no.’ That’s why he’s now talking about what it will take to end global warming and related planetary problems like climate change.
“We put out a lot of carbon dioxide every year: over 26 billion tons....it’s an average of about 5 tons for
everyone on the planet. Somehow we have to make changes that will bring that down to zero.”~ Bill Gates (Innovating to Zero)
Bill Gates asked leading climate scientists what is needed to turn things around. They told him we need to cut global emissions to near zero. This sobering prescription sets the stage for his 27-minute TED Talk he calls Innovating to Zero. You can hear him directly in the video below. As you watch, pay attention to the way he uses math to present the scale of the problem and the solutions that are needed in response.
Inspired by the thinking behind Innovating to Zero, a special Edition of Atmosphere Monthly is now in the works. The focus will be on the importance of zero emissions targets for personal and global efforts to end the climate crisis. For this reason, the current issues are being scaled back.
To make sure you receive the special Wish for Zero special edition as soon as it hits the net, click here and subscribe to Atmosphere Monthly.
“Until we get to ‘near to zero,’ the temperature will continue to rise.”
~ Bill Gates (Innovating to Zero)
Leading climate scientists say the upper safety limit for CO2 levels in the atmosphere is 350 parts per million (ppm). Atmospheric CO2 levels are now pushing past 390 ppm. They are rising faster than ever. Every extra part per million adds heat and stress to the planetary system that would not otherwise be there.
What will it take to stabilize atmospheric CO2 in the atmosphere? The IPCC explains:
A 50% reduction would stabilise atmospheric CO2, but only for less than a decade. After that, atmospheric CO2 would be expected to rise again as the land and ocean sinks decline owing to well-known chemical and biological adjustments.
What will it take to go beyond stabilization? What will it take to get atmospheric CO2 falling back to levels of less than 350 ppm? The IPCC explains:
Complete elimination of CO2 emissions is estimated to lead to a slow decrease in atmospheric CO2 of about 40 ppm over the 21st century.
This information is presented at CO2Now.org and Atmosphere Monthly by Pro Oxygen, an independent, Canadian enterprise. Pro Oxygen is working to promote carbon literacy for people and businesses around the world. The ultimate aim is to empower individuals and groups with information and tools that actually help people 'fix the atmosphere.' In short, that means practical steps that can lead to emission cuts deep and fast enough to get CO2 falling back below the upper safety limit for the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere.
You are invited to take a moment and check out these tools...these atmosphere-fixing tools:
Monitor Earth’s CO2 Home Page.
Subscribe to Atmosphere Monthly.
Follow CO2Now on Twitter.
Study the data for atmospheric CO2.
Monitor the latest global temperatures.
Add a CO2Now widget to your site.
Treat these tools as your own. Feel free to share them widely. If you have an extra minute,
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It would be great to hear from you!
Data that is less than a year old is generally considered preliminary. This data is subject to adjustments by the institution that originally published the data. Whether the data is fresh or well aged, CO2Now presents the source scientific data in its most current form. It does this without filters, rounding or processing. Most of the source data that CO2Now features is generated by the following scientific institutions:
>National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
>Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) [MLO CO2 Data] [CO2 Trends]
>National Climate Data Center (NCDC) [State of the Climate]
>Scripps Institution of Oceanography [CO2 Data]
‘Green Liberty’ by Climate Artist Frank James (used with permission)
Photo of Polar Mesospheric Clouds, Southern Hemisphere by NASA Earth Observatory
'Heron fishing at sunset' cc World through the Lens
All other images and artwork is a licensed, copyright work or copyright Pro Oxygen. Email us for details or questions.
The direct and indirect contributions of scientiists, artists and all others are graciously appreciated.
This edition of Atmosphere Monthly is proudly sponsored by Netscribe Communications Inc., maker of the Twavel iPhone app.
Atmosphere Monthly is distributed worldwide by email and online at CO2Now.org. It is the official newsletter for the CO2Now.org website. Atmosphere Monthly is published without subscription fees by Pro Oxygen of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Michael McGee, Editor
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Phone: 250-884-6760 (Canada)
Skype: michael_mcgee
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