Yearly averages of CO2 recorded at Mauna Loa, Hawaii. Retrieved from: US Department of Commerce, NOAA. (2005, October 01). Global monitoring Laboratory – carbon cycle greenhouse gases. Retrieved April 08, 2021, from https://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/trends/weekly.html

In this plot, the daily and monthly averages of CO2 prevalence at Mauna Loa, Hawaii are cataloged. The graph begins with data from March of 2020 and provides full data on every month until this past March 2021. The black dots on the graph represent daily averages, the short red lines represent weekly averages, and the blue lines comprise data from the monthly average. The graph is updated weekly, from Sunday through Saturday. The data is collected at the Observatory near the summit of Mauna Loa, at a high altitude of 3400 m, which means it is well situated to measure representative air masses. The air analyzed is from over the Pacific Ocean, and has had several days to “mix” so that the variability of CO2 pockets has diminished, and the CO2 is pretty evenly distributed. The measurements are frequently and rigorously calculated, ensuring that the measurements are as accurate as possible. The levels of CO2 are analyzed through a technique called the Cavity Rind-Down Spectroscopy (CRDS) which measures the rate of absorption of light circulating in the optical cavity. Through this mechanism, the amount of CO2 can be calculated. This instrument also measures the amount of CH4 and CO within the atmosphere.

Carbon dioxide is one of the most important long-lived greenhouse gases of our Earth. It absorbs less heat, but is more abundant and persists in the atmosphere longer. CO2 also specifically absorbs wavelengths of thermal energy that are not absorbed by water vapor, which adds to the greenhouse effect uniquely. In looking at the impact of CO2 quantitatively, the increases in CO2 are responsible for 2/3 of the total energy imbalance, which is causing the Earth’s temperature to rise. Carbon dioxide also reacts with water particles in the ocean, which lowers the ocean’s overall pH levels. The drop in pH due to this reaction is called ocean acidification (Lindsey, 2020).

Globally, carbon dioxide levels are the highest they have been in 800,000 years, with the measurement totaling 409.8 parts per million in 2019. This number is only expected to rise within the following years, with the rate of global increase being around 100 times faster than previous years. This increase in the trend of CO2 will continue to harm our climate, with temperatures expected to increase leading to a disrupted water cycle, increasing sea levels, increasing natural disaster prevalence, and destroying ecosystems. This all has profound impacts on human life and should propel us to advocating for the protection of the climate.

References:

The causes of climate change. (2021, February 08). Retrieved April 08, 2021, from https://climate.nasa.gov/causes/

Lindsey, R. (2020, August 14). Climate change: Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide: NOAA Climate.gov. Retrieved April 08, 2021, from https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-atmospheric-carbon-dioxide

US Department of Commerce, NOAA. (2005, October 01). Global monitoring Laboratory – carbon cycle greenhouse gases. Retrieved April 08, 2021, from https://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/trends/weekly.html