More CO2 and Methane

Red line: trend with seasonal variations
Black line: only trend

NOAA recently released a report stating that global levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide and methane rose sharply last year.

Last year alone carbon dioxide, which is the primary driver of global climate change, increased by 0.6 percent, or 19 billion tons. Global concentrations now sit at nearly 385 parts per million (ppm), up from 380 ppm in 2006, and way up from the 280 ppm during the pre-industrial era.

Scientists are worried about the rate of increase in carbon dioxide. It has been accelerating over recent decades along with fossil fuel emissions. According to the article, since 2000, annual increases of two ppm or more have been common, compared with 1.5 ppm per year in the 1980s and less than one ppm per year during the 1960s.

Burning coal, oil, and gas is the primary source of carbon dioxide emissions. The problem?? Earth's oceans, vegetation, and soils soak up half of these emissions. The rest stays in the air for centuries or longer.

Methane also rose last year (the first time since 19998) by 27 million tons. Methane is 25 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, but there’s far less of it in the atmosphere—about 1,800 parts per billion. Even though methane is more powerful, it's over climate impact is about half of carbon dioxide's.

Source of story and picture: NOAA