Evidence from polar ice cores for the increase in atmospheric CO2 in the past two centuries
Abstract
Measurements of the CO2 gas concentration enclosed in an ice core from Siple Station, Antarctica, are reported which allow the development of atmospheric CO2 to be traced from a period overlapping the Mauna Loa record back over the past two centuries. The results indicate that atmospheric CO2 concentration around 1750 was 280 + or - 5 ppmv and has increased since, essentially because of human factors, by 22.5 percent to 345 ppmv in 1984. Back extrapolation of the Mauna Loa curve suggests a preindustrial level of 297 ppmv. The difference of 17 ppmv between this calculated value and that measured indicates a significant contribution from biomass burning, even during the past century when the contribution from fossil fuel consumption was still small.
- Publication:
-
Nature
- Pub Date:
- May 1985
- DOI:
- 10.1038/315045a0
- Bibcode:
- 1985Natur.315...45N
- Keywords:
-
- Carbon Dioxide Concentration;
- Climatology;
- Earth Atmosphere;
- Long Term Effects;
- Polar Caps;
- Biomass;
- Greenhouse Effect;
- Periodic Variations;
- Geophysics