Global Warming has truly caught up with Earth. Antarctica's recording of carbon dioxide exceeded 400 ppm for the first time in 4 million years, marking a point of no return for the planet.
CO2 spike since industrial revolution is attributed to human activities mainly fossil fuel burning. The release of carbon dioxide into atmosphere has also been blamed for increase in global mean temperatures, rise in acidity of oceans and increase in ocean levels. Extreme weather events are also blamed for global warming-induced climate change.
Global mean concentrations of CO2 passed the 400 ppm mark last year, which sent alarm bells ringing; earth had gone beyond a point of no return, warranting drastic changes to circumvent disastrous consequences. Humanity was being nudged into action at Paris.
"The far southern hemisphere was the last place on earth where CO2 had not yet reached this mark," said Pieter Tans, the lead scientist of NOAA's Global Greenhouse Gas Reference Network. "Global CO2 levels will not return to values below 400 ppm in our lifetimes, and almost certainly for much longer."
Though far removed from human activity, Antarctica records CO2 released into atmosphere from other parts of the globe. The gas makes its way from the Northern Hemisphere to the south. Plants help absorb some of what is produced predominantly during summers but diminishing green sink source on Earth is inadequate; slashing emissions is the only way forward.
"We know from abundant and solid evidence that the CO2 increase is caused entirely by human activities," Tans said. "Since emissions from fossil fuel burning have been at a record high during the last several years, the rate of CO2 increase has also been at a record high. And we know some of it will remain in the atmosphere for thousands of years."
Every year since measurements began, CO2 concentrations have been higher than previous years. In 2016, scientists apprehend the average for the planet every month of the year may be higher than 400 ppm.
