Global Mean CO2 Hits 398 ppm, an Annual Increase of 3 ppm on March 3, 2014 0-12 hrs UTC

Tracking global CO2 is usually based upon the Keeling Curve readings at Mauna Loa, Hawaii, given its long tracking record. While this is very helpful, satellite imagery is providing a new perspective of global CO2 (carbon dioxide) and CH4 (methane) concentrations.

One useful means for tracking global CO2 is the EUTMETSAT Metop A and B satellites which carry the IASI instrument. The IASI instrument enables sampling the atmosphere in 100 layers for CO2 concentrations. (More on this in another post).

On March 3, 2013 0-12 hrs, the IASI CO2 global mean concentration was 395 ppm at 945 mb. What the image also reveals is that there were few areas with concentrations above 410 ppm, except in central Africa and the northwestern coast of Australia.

This has changed significantly, for on March 3, 2014, with the global mean CO2 at 945 mb is now at 398 ppm, and many areas have concentrations above 420 ppm over the Arctic and North America. This vividly illustrates the ongoing increase of CO2 in the atmosphere over the past year.

When one considers the entire atmospheric column of CO2, the mean level is a bit lower, but still captures the increase of 2014 vs 2013, and reveals that the CO2 ppm increase over 400 ppm for the entire column is widespread.

Source: http://www.osdpd.noaa.gov/IASI/html/index.html