Atmosphere Journal Entry

Carbon Dioxide Emissions Rising (November 12, 2007)

Carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere were 35 percent higher in 2006 than they were in 1990. With all the talk about greenhouse gases lately, the news is hardly surprising but troubling just the same.

The rise is from the combination of increased burning of fossil fuels and decreased ability of oceans to soak up carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide increase comes despite efforts of some nations to put a lid on greenhouse gas emissions in recent years. A researcher at the National Center for Atmospheric Research says the data is a reminder that global climate change is quickly galloping out of control.

More than half of the jump has been in this decade. In 2000, 7.0 metric tons of carbon were released from the burning of fossil fuels. By 2006, the total had risen by 20 percent to 8.4 billion metric tons. A metric ton equals 2,205 pounds.

One of the biggest surprises of the report is the slowing of the world's oceans as a carbon "sink." Oceans are not as efficient at pulling carbon out of the atmosphere as they used to be. This is partly due to changing wind and ocean currents. Global warming is another reason. Warmer water holds less gas than cooler water. It's the same reason a warm soft drink loses fizz faster than a chilled one.