State of Our Climate
Atmospheric Greenhouse Gas Concentrations
Atmospheric Greenhouse Gas Concentrations
Scripps daily CO2
CO2 equivalent
Atmospheric GHG concentrations all together are expressed as CO2 equivalent.
It tells us we are 'committed' (locked in) to a higher warming than at present.
Radiative (hear) forcing can be derived from CO2 eq.
Atmospheric GHG concentrations all together are expressed as CO2 equivalent.
It tells us we are 'committed' (locked in) to a higher warming than at present.
Radiative (hear) forcing can be derived from CO2 eq.
Atmospheric CO2 May 2024 423.9 ppm
800,000-year
ice core limits
ice core limits
CO2: 300 ppm
methane: 800 ppb
nitrous oxide: 300 ppb
methane: 800 ppb
nitrous oxide: 300 ppb
May 2024
CO2: 423.9 ppm
methane: 1,925 ppb
nitrous oxide: 337.5 ppb
(NOAA)
methane: 1,925 ppb
nitrous oxide: 337.5 ppb
(NOAA)
Pre-industrial
CO2: 278 ppm
methane: 722 ppb
nitrous oxide: 270 ppb
methane: 722 ppb
nitrous oxide: 270 ppb
CO2 equivalant (all GHGs)
May 2023 Atmospheric CO2 eq. : 523 ppm (CO2 eq.)
NOAA GHG Index
NOAA GHG Index
All three main atmospheric GHGs are record high, increasing at record rates (2024)
Past 800,000 yrs
110,000 yrs
Past 2,000 yrs
From 1800
110,000 yrs
Past 2,000 yrs
From 1800
(seasonally adjusted mean)
Atmospheric methane May 2024 1925 ppb. 166% increase
Nitrous oxide May 2025 337.5 ppb 35% increase
52% increase
WMO annual GHG Bulletin
The (accelerating) concentration of all atmospheric greenhouse gases combined (CO2 equivalent) constitute a full long term equilibrium warming of over 2.4°C
(radiative forcig
There will be additional warming from the many large planetary feedback sources (like wetlands and permafrost)- not included in IPCC projections.
There will be additional warming due to reduced efficiency of the land (forest) and ocean carbon sinks that have had the effect of buffering the warming by about 50%.
Another source of extra warming results from fossil fuel emission air pollution aerosol cooling, a hidden source of warming unmasked with air pollution measures and termination of fossil fuel energy. Recent air quality measures have reduced the aerosols.
(radiative forcig
There will be additional warming from the many large planetary feedback sources (like wetlands and permafrost)- not included in IPCC projections.
There will be additional warming due to reduced efficiency of the land (forest) and ocean carbon sinks that have had the effect of buffering the warming by about 50%.
Another source of extra warming results from fossil fuel emission air pollution aerosol cooling, a hidden source of warming unmasked with air pollution measures and termination of fossil fuel energy. Recent air quality measures have reduced the aerosols.
Atmospheric Greenhouse concentrations
5 May 2024, NOAA
5 May 2024, NOAA
2024 Atmospheric CO2 is increasing at a record rate.
“Not only is CO2 now at the highest level in millions of years, it is also rising faster than ever,”
6 June 2024, NOAA, During a year of extremes, carbon dioxide levels surge faster than ever
“Not only is CO2 now at the highest level in millions of years, it is also rising faster than ever,”
6 June 2024, NOAA, During a year of extremes, carbon dioxide levels surge faster than ever
CO2
methane
nitrous
oxide
oxide