Record growth in atmospheric CO2 despite stable anthropogenic emissions due to weaker sinks
Tuesday, November 15, 2016 - 06:01
in Earth & Climate
In spite of almost no growth in emissions, the growth in atmospheric CO2 concentration was at a record-high in 2015 and could be a record high again in 2016, at 23 and 25 Gt CO2 per year, respectively, compared to an average of 16 Gt CO2 per year in the previous decade. Atmospheric CO2 levels have exceeded 400 parts per million (ppm) in 2015, 44 percent above pre-industrial levels [data NOAA/ESRL]. This is the highest level in at least the last 800,000 years.