Greenhouse Gases Break Record Levels, Global Warming to Come Back with a Vengeance!

The level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has increased rapidly in 2012 compared to its average rise in the past ten years based on a new report. The carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has broken records, according to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).

Historical records have also shown that nitrous oxide and methane have reached record highs in the past. The WMO report also revealed the effects of global warming have increased by almost one-third since 1990.

The annual greenhouse gas bulletin prepared by the WMO contains measurements of gas concentrations in the atmosphere. The report does not include gas emissions on the ground. According to WMO, carbon dioxide is the most important gas that the organisation tracks. Half of the carbon dioxide emitted by humans remain in the atmosphere while the rest is used by trees, plants, oceans and land.

Based on the report, global average levels of carbon dioxide rose to 141 per cent since 1750. During the pre-industrialisation, concentration was at 278 parts per million (ppm). The WMO report states that the atmosphere contained 393.1 ppm of carbon dioxide in 2012, a 2.2 ppm increase from 2011. The yearly average was 2.02 ppm in the last ten years.

WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud said the greenhouse gas bulletin highlights how "heat-trapping" gases from human activities have affected the atmosphere's natural balance. The high concentrations of greenhouse gases are considered major contributors to climate change.

Mr Girraud said that the results are cause for concern. He said governments around the world should take action and not delay any longer. According to WMO, the global annual average carbon dioxide concentration will exceed the 400 ppm mark in 2015 or 2016.

Methane levels have also broken records in 2012 with 1,819 parts per billion. Concentrations of methane have been steadily increasing since 2007 after a time when concentrations appeared to be leveling off.

The WMO report also said the increase in methane concentrations cannot be completely attributed to either wetlands or human activities. Researchers said that the rising methane levels come from the tropical and mid-latitude hemisphere and not in the Arctic as once believed.

Nitrous oxide levels have grown in 2012 at 325.1 parts per billion or 120 per cent before the industrialization. Nitrous gas is 298 times more heat-trapping than carbon dioxide and plays a significant role in the deterioration of the ozone layer.

According to reports, scientists believe that the new data suggests that global warming will speed up again after the temperature slows down in 14 years.