Analyze the changes in concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide using historical records.

Recent Trends:

▪       Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations have been measured at the Mauna Loa atmospheric observatory in Hawaii from 1958 and has since been measured at a number of different locations globally

▪       The data shows that there is an annual cycle in CO₂ concentrations which may be attributable to seasonal factors, but when data from the two hemispheres is incorporated, it suggests that atmospheric CO₂ levels have risen steadily in the past 30 years (Keeling curve)

 

Long Term Estimates:

▪       Carbon dioxide concentration changes over a long period of time have been determined by a variety of sources, including analyzing the gases trapped in ice – air bubbles (and thus providing a historical snapshot of atmospheric concentrations)

▪       Data taken from the Vostok ice core in Antarctica shows that fluctuating cycles of CO₂ concentrations over thousands of years appear to correlate with global warm ages and ice ages

▪       It is compelling to note that CO₂ levels appear to be currently higher than at any time in the last 400,000 years