CO2 levels hit new peak at key observatory
NOAA's Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii saw a new peak in carbon dioxide levels.
May 11th, 2013
11:45 PM ET

CO2 levels hit new peak at key observatory

By Elizabeth Landau, CNN

In some ways, it's just a number, but it's a big number with enormous implications.

For the first time, scientists measured an average concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide of 400 parts per million in Mauna Loa, Hawaii, where the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration observatory is located, on Thursday.

"Most experts that really study CO2 amounts estimate that we haven't seen that amount of CO2 in our atmosphere in about 3 million years," said J. Marshall Shepherd, climate change expert and professor at the University of Georgia. In other words, modern humans have never seen carbon dioxide in these proportions before.

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Filed under: Climate • On Earth
soundoff (16 Responses)
  1. Jones

    When I went to school, we were taught that plants, trees used CO2 to create food for themselves. Oxygen was the byproduct. Further, if there's more CO2 available, more plants and trees will grow – and create more oxygen, until equilibrium is reached. Although it doesn't sell books or fit social engineering agendas, it's really no more complicated than that. Really! And try to tell me that a warming atmosphere of a few degrees is really so bad, as hundreds of thousands of Americans have and continue to migrate to warmer climates.

    May 22, 2013 at 11:28 pm |
  2. julia brown110

    like Troy responded I cannot believe that a single mom able to profit $5071 in four weeks on the internet. did you read this web link .......... FOX. ℂOℳ

    May 18, 2013 at 2:10 pm |
  3. Elroy Jetson

    Better start taking care of mother earth, or you will be wearing breathing apparatuses in the near future. I'm telling the gals, it will mess up your makeup if you have to wear one. Just ask my mom, Jane.

    May 13, 2013 at 11:17 am |
  4. Kumarr Ragneesh

    Our curry chicken is famos worldwide. Us Indians are better than u.

    May 12, 2013 at 1:50 pm |
  5. Kumarr Ragneesh

    Wy everone hate us Indians? We're not rude you unclean smelly camel Humperdinks.

    May 12, 2013 at 1:49 pm |
  6. Scientist

    Humans breath in oxygen and then emit CO2. Trees and plants then take this CO2 and change it back into oxygen. It is a wonderful cycle of nature. World governments should encourage the planting of trees and stop the deforestation if the rainforest. They also need to greatly reduce the birth rate – most especially of those from India. By limiting and hopefully decreasing the number of people from India the world will have less people emitting CO2 plus it will become a nicer friendlier place for all.

    May 12, 2013 at 1:02 pm |
    • Keith

      Agreed. U like your argument. No single group of people, other than possibly those of Bangladesh, are more horrible than the people of India.

      May 12, 2013 at 1:18 pm |
      • Keith

        "I like your argument". Sorry about the typing error. Irregardless, those of Indian descent are the scourge of humankind.

        May 12, 2013 at 1:22 pm |
    • Jorge

      By limiting and hopefully decreasing the population of self-centered, shallow-minded American SUV, pickup truck and luxury car drivers with college educations and no common sense or social maturity, we can reduce the worldwide production not only of CO2, but of NOX, hydrocarbons, flatulence and verbal hot air as well...

      May 13, 2013 at 5:53 pm |
      • Sceintist

        There are over 75 billion people in India breathing up all the worlds oxygen. It's a sceintific fact. I am a sceintist.

        May 15, 2013 at 11:32 am |
  7. Janelle

    I read the article again. This is scary.

    May 12, 2013 at 12:09 pm |
  8. Janelle

    Cars emit alot of CO2. Maybe we should ban the further production of gasoline powered ones. Let all new cars run off of solar energy or make. The lazy masses walk. Walking has worked for thousands of years.

    May 12, 2013 at 12:06 pm |
  9. Marcus

    Agreed. Our focus should be on saving planet Earth instead of wasting $ on NASA TomFoolery.

    May 12, 2013 at 12:03 pm |
  10. Dave

    Also some BB guns are powered by CO2. They need to quit using it.
    But if we could create a machine to split the carbon atom off the oxygen atoms then we would have more oxygen to breathe and also use the carbon for something. We need to be working on this instead of worrying about going to mars. We need to save our planet here.

    May 12, 2013 at 12:01 pm |
  11. Dave

    It may be the result of the Cub Scouts. They keep building those little CO2 powered wooden race cars for the PineWood Derby.

    May 12, 2013 at 11:55 am |
  12. palintwit

    I thought there would be less hot air now that Sarah Palin is no longer on Faux News.

    May 12, 2013 at 10:18 am |
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