CO2 Highest For 650,000 Years
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 11.25.05
European scientists have analyzed ice taken from 3km below the surface of Antarctica and discovered from tiny gas bubbles trapped in the ice that "current levels of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere are higher now than at any time in the past 650,000 years." Bad news. "Over a five year period commencing in 1999, scientists working with the European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica (Epica) have drilled 3,270m into the Dome C ice, which equates to drilling nearly 900,000 years back in time. [...] 'We find that CO2 is about 30% higher than at any time, and methane 130% higher than at any time; and the rates of increase are absolutely exceptional: [...] Update: "Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have risen 200 times faster over the past 50 years than at any other time during this period," says Thomas Stocker of the University of Bern, Switzerland, who led the analysis. ::CO2 'highest for 650,000 years', ::Greenhouse-gas levels highest for 650,000 years
holy crap !
I don't get this. Does this mean it's the highest it's been 650,000 years? So a little over 1/2 million years ago, there was more carbon dioxide? If so, why?
Not to criticize something I don't pay for, and really enjoy but:
"Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have risen 200 times faster over the past 50 years than at any other time during this period, says Thomas Stocker of the University of Bern, Switzerland, who led the analysis."
The key here, which is missing in the post is that it has happened in only 50 years!.
Thanks Reality, I guess I should've included that quote. Sometimes important things fall off when you try to make a newspiece concise. I'll fix it.
3.2km down over five years? I sure hope this was a solar-powered operation.
Scott, ever tried running anything solar-powered during a polar winter/night?
Summer-time on the other hand could work exceeding well, at least for photovoltaics. Combine 24 hour sunlight with cold temperatures (solar cells are more efficient at low temperature) and it could work for that half of the year.