BBC: sharp rise in co2 levels reported

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E-mail this to a friend Printable version <br> <br>Sharp rise in CO2 levels recorded <br>By David Shukman <br>BBC science correspondent <br><br><br> <br>Air samples have been taken from Colorado's Rocky Mountains <br>US climate scientists have recorded a significant rise in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, pushing it to a new record level. <br><br>BBC News has learned the latest data shows CO2 levels now stand at 381 parts per million (ppm) - 100ppm above the pre-industrial average. <br><br>The research indicates that 2005 saw one of the largest increases on record - a rise of 2.6ppm. <br><br>The figures are seen as a benchmark for climate scientists around the globe. <br><br>The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) has been analysing samples of air taken from all over the world, including America's Rocky Mountains. <br><br>The chief carbon dioxide analyst for Noaa says the latest data confirms a worrying trend that recent years have, on average, recorded double the rate of increase from just 30 years ago. <br><br> Mankind is changing the climate <br><br>Professor Sir David King,<br>UK chief scientific adviser<br><br><br>Put your questions to Sir David <br><br>"We don't see any sign of a decrease; in fact, we're seeing the opposite, the rate of increase is accelerating," Dr Pieter Tans told the BBC. <br><br>The precise level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is of global concern because climate scientists fear certain thresholds may be "tipping points" that trigger sudden changes. <br><br>The UK government's chief scientific adviser, Professor Sir David King, said the new data highlighted the importance of taking urgent action to limit carbon emissions. <br><br>"Today we're over 380 ppm," he said. "That's higher than we've been for over a million years, possibly 30 million years. Mankind is changing the climate." <br><br><br><br> <br> <p></p><i></i>

[Rigorous Intuition]

It isn't final proof that the world is heating up, but federal climatologists say this has been the warmest Canadian winter since nationwide record-keeping began in 1948.<br><br>"Statistically, in an unchanging climate, Canada could expect a winter anomaly like this winter's about every 100 years," Environment Canada reported on Monday in its Climate Change and Variations bulletin.<br><br>In addition, with the exception of the springs of 2002 and 2004, temperatures have been stuck above normal for eight years, it said.<br><br>Other findings:<br><br>This winter's preliminary figures show temperatures averaging 3.9 C above normal.<br><br>That makes it not just the warmest winter but the most overheated season – winter, spring, summer or fall – on record.<br><br>The weather has been even more unseasonable in some places than in others.<br><br><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/pix/temp_departure_envirocan060313.jpg" style="border:0;"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><br><br><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/edmonton/story/ed-warm-winter20060314.html">cbc.ca</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--> <p></p><i></i>