The weight of scientific evidence shows that our planet’s surface has warmed by around 0.8°C since the 1880s, and that this rise in temperature has been driven largely  by the human-produced emission of greenhouse gases. 

To avoid catastrophic climate change we must maintain the average world temperature from rising 2°C above pre-industrial levels. However to stop heat building up in the air, the amount of warming gases in the atmosphere must come down and quickly.  Out of all the greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide (CO2) has been responsible for the greatest amount of warming since industrialisation.  Unfortunately, CO2 can survive in the atmosphere for over a century so right now our air contains carbon dioxide which has been warming our planet since the beginning of industrialisation. In late 2007, scientists began to conclude that 350 parts per million of atmospheric CO2 was the maximum level possible while still being able to sustain life on Earth as we know it.  At that time, the CO2 count was over 384 ppm.  As if this weren’t bad enough, our planet’s ability to soak up CO2 is falling while the amount we’re producing is increasing. Not only must we stop emitting lots of carbon dioxide, we urgently need to take it out of the atmosphere.

Confirmation of rising planetary CO2 levels is expressed by the Keeling Curve.

MORE Climate Change science, technology and solutions
Carbonscape
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) BASICS »
Keeling Curve: Our Breathing Planet and CO2 Rising

WATCH related Antarctica and climate change VIDEO
Antarctica Heating Up, Not Cooling as Widely Believed VIDEO »
Obama Inauguration Sparks Antarctic Geologists’ Hopes VIDEO »
Glacier Melt Warning Signs from the Antarctic VIDEO »
Rain Speeds Antarctic Peninsula Glacier Melt – Global Climate Change Feedback 
British Antarctic Survey
British Antarctic Survey Website: Info, Photos, Video & Webcams ONLINE »
All posts tagged Antarctica