CO2 Now

 

What the world needs to watch

Global warming is mainly the result of CO2 levels rising in the Earth’s atmosphere. Both atmospheric CO2 and climate change are accelerating. Climate scientists say we have years, not decades, to stabilize CO2 and other greenhouse gases.

To help the world succeed, CO2Now.org makes it easy to see the most current CO2 level and what it means. So, use this site and keep an eye on CO2.  Invite others to do the same. Then we can do more to send CO2 in the right direction.

Watch CO2 now and know the score on global warming, practically in real time.

CO2 Now
Scripps CO2 Data - Mauna Loa Observatory PDF Print E-mail

Scripps Institution of Oceanograph

This page presents data for atmospheric CO2 measurements by the Scripps CO2 Program at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii.   Starting March 1958, the Scripps Mauna Loa data is the longest-runing, high-precision instrument record for atmospheric CO2. 

About the Scripps CO2 Program

The Scripps CO2 program was initiated in 1956 by Charles David Keeling who directed the program until he died in 2005.  The program is now operated by  Ralph F. Keeling who also runs the Scripps O2 Program that measures atmospheric oxygen and argon.   Both programs are based at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego (La Jolla) California.

 

Scripps Data

Scripps CO2 Data     Data reposted by CO2Now.org  (updated January 19, 2012)

Scripps Source CO2 Data (CSV) | Scripps CO2 Program (updated May 10, 2012)

 

Scripps Program

Scripps CO2 Program Home Page | Scripps CO2 Program

 

Related

NOAA CO2 Data | CO2Now.org

 
Earth's CO2 Home Page PDF Print E-mail

 

 

 

 

396.18ppm

 

 

Atmospheric CO2 for April 2012

Preliminary data released May 7, 2012

(Mauna Loa Observatory: NOAA-ESRL)

Current chart and data for atmospheric CO2


 
CO2 Data Set:

Original data file posted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Monday May 7, 2012

 
 
Measuring Location:

Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii

   
 
 
Data Source:
Scripps CO2 Program UCSD / Scripps Institution of Oceanography
   
 
 
Why is CO2 significant?
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the chief greenhouse gas that results from human activities and causes global warming and climate change. To see whether enough is being done at the moment to solve these global problems, there is no single indicator as complete and current as the monthly updates for atmospheric CO2 from the Mauna Loa Observatory.
 
 
 
 
What is the current trend?
The concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere are increasing at an accelerating rate from decade to decade.   accelerating from decade to decade.   The latest atmospheric CO2 data is consistent with a continuation of this long-standing trend.
   
 
 
What level is safe?
The upper safety limit for atmospheric CO2 is 350 parts per million (ppm). Atmospheric CO2 levels have stayed higher than 350 ppm since early 1988.

 

 
Current Data for Atmospheric CO2 PDF Print E-mail


The world's most current data for atmospheric CO2 is measured at the Mauna Loa Observatoy in Hawaii.  Measurements are made and reported independently by two scientific institutions:  Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).  Monthly data is posted below.   

Mauna Loa CO2 Data Sets:

     NOAA CO2 Data

     Scripps CO2 Data

 

 
NOAA Mauna Loa CO2 Data PDF Print E-mail

 

NOAA release date for monthly CO2 data:

May 7, 2012

Atmospheric CO2
Mauna Loa Observatory (Scripps / NOAA / ESRL)
Monthly Mean CO2 Concentrations (ppm)
Since March 1958

 

Note: The HTML table that was kept up to date at CO2Now.org is temporarily replaced with an excel spreadsheet. 

 NOAA CO2 Data for the Mauna Loa Observatory     PDF Version 

Source Data
 

Mauna Loa Monthly Mean CO2

Source data published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Mauna Loa Annual Mean CO2

Source data published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

 


Data Notes

  • At CO2Now.org, data for March 1958 - April 1974 was obtained by Charles David Keeling of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (Scripps).  Data for CO2 since May 1974 was obtained by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).   The Scripps Institution of Oceanography also maintains a CO2 monitoring program at the Mauna Loa Observatory.  Click here to access the Scripps data for the Mauna Loa Observatory.   
  •  
  • Monthly mean CO2 concentrations are determined from daily averages for the number of CO2 molecules in every one million molecules of dried air (water vapor removed).  Annual mean CO2 concentrations are the arithmetic mean of the monthly averages for the year.  Atmospheric CO2 concentrations are expressed as parts per million (ppm).

 

  • NOAA data published within the past year is preliminary and subject to change by NOAA due to its recalibration of the reference gas mixture used or other quality control procedures.  In some cases, data from earlier years may be changed for the same reasons.  Usually, these changes are minor. See the NOAA change log and notes that was started in August 2008 to keep a public record of the adjustments and reasons for the adjustments.   

 

  • All data in this table is republished from the most current data available from NOAA.  Data is republished independently by Pro Oxygen at CO2Now.org to make it easier for people to see the latest atmospheric CO2 data and trend information.  A delay of 4 to 24  hours typically occurs between the release of monthly data by NOAA and the publication of updates at CO2Now.org.   The accuracy of republished data can be checked by reviewing the source data.   In the event that a publication error is detected, please send details to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .   

 


 

More Data

 


Related

CO2 Acceleration  |  CO2Now.org

Mauna Loa Science and Wonder  |  CO2Now.org

 
The CO2Now Climate Sheet PDF Print E-mail

The Climate Sheet

Updated May 15, 2012

Climate Sheet posts the world’s most current and important planetary data and targets – together in one place from leading global sources.  The CO2Now Climate Sheet enumerates the chain of causes that are driving humanity’s largest environmental crises – global warming, climate change and ocean acidification.  It also sets out key scientific markers for a stable climate system.

Read more...
 
Global CO2 Board PDF Print E-mail


The Most Current CO2 Data on Earth

Atmospheric CO2  |  Mauna Loa Observatory

NOAA-ESRL  |  Data available since 1974

Scripps CO2 Program  |  Data available since 1958

Period

Latest Data

Comparison 

Source 

Last Update 

Weekly

397.17 ppm

May 6 - 12
2012

393.05 ppm

May 6 - 12
2011

NOAA-ESRL

May 13, 2012

Monthly

396.34 ppm

April 2012

393.50 ppm

April 2011

Scripps CO2

May 10, 2012

 

396.18 ppm

April 2012

393.28 ppm

April 2011

NOAA-ESRL

May 7, 2012 

Annual

389.92 ppm*

2010 

387.35 ppm*

2009

Scripps CO2

Jan 14, 2011

 

391.57 ppm

2011

389.78 ppm

2010

NOAA-ESRL

May 7, 2012

* Scripps annual CO2 data is calcuated by CO2Now using Scripps monthly CO2 data. 

 

Atmospheric CO2    |  Global Data

NOAA-ESRL Cooperative Air Sampling Network 

Global Data Available Since 1980

Period 

Latest Data 

Comparison 

Last Update 

Monthly 

393.87 ppm

March 2012 

391.46 ppm 

March 2011

May 7, 2012

Annual

390.44 ppm 

2011

388.54 ppm 

2010

May 7, 2012 

 

 

Read more...
 
Weekly Data | Atmospheric CO2 PDF Print E-mail

 


Atmospheric CO2  - Weekly Data
Mauna Loa Observatory   |   NOAA-ESRL Data

Week

Atmospheric CO2 

May 6 - 12, 2012

 

397.17 ppm 

(last week)

May 6 - 12, 2011

 

393.05 ppm 

(1 year ago)

 

May 6 - 12, 2002

 

375.12 ppm 

(10 years ago)

 


Atmospheric CO2  -  Increase Since 1800
Mauna Loa Observatory   |   NOAA-ESRL Data

As of Last Week

Increase Since 1800 

May 6 - 12, 2012

 

+ 113.90 ppm

NOAA-ESRL updated weekly data on Sunday May 13, 2012.  ("ppm" means parts per million)

 

Read more...
 
Annual Data | Atmospheric CO2 PDF Print E-mail


Annual Levels for Atmospheric CO2

Atmospheric CO2 (ppm)The 2011 average annual concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere (Mauna Loa Observatory) is 391.57 parts per million (ppm).   The 2010 average is 389.78 ppm.  

For the past decade (2002-2011) the average annual increase is 2.07 ppm per year.  The average for the prior decade (1992-2001) is 1.6 ppm per year.   Annual data for 2011 was first posted January 5, 2012, by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the United States. 

Since the 1958 start of precision CO2 measurements in the atmosphere, the annual mean concentration of CO2 has only increased from one year to the next.   The CO2 data below provide a simple view of the annual trend. 

Read more...
 
How CO2 is Measured PDF Print E-mail

 

NOAA  |  In situ CO2 monitoring program

NOAA  |  Mauna Loa FAQs

NOAA  |  Location of the Mauna Loa Observatory

 

 
Carbon Impact Map PDF Print E-mail

 

When carbon fossil fuels are extracted from the Earth’s crust and burned for energy, the emitted carbon dioxide is not visible.  That makes it hard to see and know how the use of fossil fuel adds up to serious global impacts like sea level rise, increased famine and species extinction.  The Carbon Impact Map is a climate literacy tool from CO2Now.org that traces the progression of carbon from its extraction and use to impacts on the planet and civilization to planetary feedbacks.   It presents an overall picture insix major steps.  The Carbon Impact Map is not an exhaustive list of the factors. 

Humanity's Carbon Extraction

Read more...
 
Global Carbon Emissions PDF Print E-mail

http://forio.com/simulation/climate-development/

Global Carbon Budget 2010


Global CO2 Budget 2010

GlobalCarbonProject.org posted data for the 2010 Global Carbon Budget on December 5, 2011.  Key findings are listed here:

* CO2 emissions grew 5.9% in 2010 to reach 9.1 GtC (33.5Gt CO2), overcoming a 1.4% decrease in CO2 emissions in 2009 

* Including land-use change and deforestation, in 2010 emissions reached 10.0 GtC (36.8 Gt CO2)

* As of 2009 developing countries now emit more than developed countries in terms of consumption, and China now emits more than the US in terms of consumption

>>>>  Links to the source data, credits and high-resolution images are given below.

Read more...