Global warming and the changing seasons.
by Chris, 8 December, 2016, 0 comments
The level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has been carefully monitored since the 1950’s (for example at Mauna Loa). For much of recorded history and prior to the industrial revolution, the level of carbon dioxide was about 280 ppm. However, its current level of 400 ppm represents a significant increase and is probably the highest value for some 800,000 years. It has risen because of the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, peat etc.) - which release carbon dioxide. This has contributed to global warming and the phenomenon of climate change.
However, the rise in global temperature has not been quite as great as some calculations / predictions have proposed. The “greening of the planet” (that is an increase in the number of trees and plants growing on the planet) was held to be responsible for this ‘reduction’ in anticipated temperatures. Read more...