Atmospheric Carbon Levels Rising

Carbon levels in the atmosphere have risen by 150% since the industrial revolution. This has been tracked by NASA for years. According to the latest measurement, the level is 419 parts per million. As a result, there are 419 carbon dioxide particles in every million air particles. That may not seem like much, but carbon dioxide is only supposed to make up less than 1% of the atmosphere.

CO2 emissions reached 11 billion tonnes in the 1960s. As of 2010, that number had increased to 35 billion per year, and it continues to rise. Although there are natural carbon sinks on earth, we have exceeded their capacity to sequester carbon, so the amount in the atmosphere is increasing. Natural increases in carbon dioxide have occurred throughout the earth’s history, but never at the rate that industrialization has caused. The amount of carbon dioxide could climb to 800 ppm in the next century if action is not taken. 

In recent years, NASA has recorded the amount of emissions from space for each country. They are doing this via satellite images and it is a pilot project. Project results show which forests are the largest carbon sinks and where the largest polluters are located. This research provides a comprehensive view of the carbon stock.

Further studies have shown how forest fires have increased carbon dioxide in the regional atmosphere. Additionally, the technology can pick up ocean carbon exchanges, seasonal dynamics, storm effect on carbon exchange, and more.

https://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/carbon-dioxide/

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-space-mission-takes-stock-of-carbon-dioxide-emissions-by-countries

https://ocov2.jpl.nasa.gov/science/