Scripps Institution of Oceanography announced Thursday that the amount of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide in the atmosphere continues its steady increase, setting a new record in May.
The NOAA Mauna Loa Observatory located 11,141 feet above sea level on Hawaii, measured over 430 parts per million — one-third higher that when monitoring began over 50 years ago.
The monthly average in May of 430.2 ppm is an increase of 3.5 ppm over May 2024’s measurement of 426.7 ppm.
“Another year, another record,” said Ralph Keeling, director of the Scripps CO2 Program. “It’s sad.”
Since carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, the steady increase has significant implications for global warming. The gas acts like a blanket, trapping heat and warming the lower atmosphere
In 1958, Scripps scientist Charles David Keeling, father of Ralph, began monitoring carbon dioxide concentrations at the observatory site. Keeling was the first to recognize that levels in the Northern Hemisphere peak in May, fall during the growing season, and rise again as plants die in the fall.
He documented these fluctuations in a record that has come to be known as the Keeling Curve. He was also the first to recognize that, in addition to the seasonal fluctuation, carbon dioxide levels have risen every year.
Scripps has documented that carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are now more than 50% higher than they were before the beginning of the industrial era and the burning of fossil fuels.
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