The relentless rise of carbon dioxide

Ancient air bubbles trapped in ice allow climate scientists to compare Earth’s atmosphere in the distant past to how it is today
 

HISTORICAL ANALYSIS OF CO2 LEVELS

CO2 level (parts per million)

For millennia, atmospheric CO2 never rose above this line

Current level 2013: Levels surpass 400ppm

Years before today (0 = 1950)

1950

420     
380
340	
300	
260
220
180
800,000 600,000 400,000 200,000 0
     
                      
Sources: NASA Global Climate Change, Earth Day
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