Greenhouse gas emission concentrations surpass milestone limit for the first time

Global concentrations of carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere surpassed 400
parts per million this past spring for the first time, breaching a
symbolic barrier set by climate scientists and policy makers, according
to a report released Monday.



Concentrationsof other greenhouse gases produced from human activities, such as
methane and nitrous oxide, also reached records in 2014, the World Meteorological Organization
announced in its annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin.



The report is one of several measurements made by different climate
agencies to address the state of greenhouse gases in advance of the Paris Climate Summit.
“Thisevidence shows us that the concentrations are increasing, and they are
increasing with increasing rates,” said Oksana Tarasova, chief of the
W.M.O.'s Atmospheric Environment Research Division. “This calls for
urgent and very strong actions to limit the emission of those greenhouse
gasses.”

In 2014, the average global atmospheric carbon dioxide level rose to 397.7
parts per million, substantially higher than the 278 parts per million
floating in the atmosphere during preindustrial time, or before 1750.
The researchers reported that the annual average is expected to pass 400
parts per million in 2016.

But Dr. Tarasova noted that exceeding the 400 mark does not denote an immediate catastrophe.
“Theres nothing magic about 400, it's nothing better than 399 or 401,” she
said. “This is like our obligation to ourselves, we'd like to not go
over 400. It's symbolic.” She said that surpassing the threshold “only
shows that our commitments are not there.”



In 2014, methane in the air increased by nine parts per billion over 2013,
which represented two and a half times its preindustrial levels.
Nitrous oxide reached 1.1 parts per billion more than its levels in
2013, an increase of 20 percent from its preindustrial levels, according
to the findings.



The report also noted interactions between greenhouse gas emissions and
water vapor in the atmosphere. Humans produce carbon dioxide that heats
up Earth's surface, which then heats up the atmosphere.

Hotter air can hold more moisture, which exacerbates greenhouse warming.
According to Dr. Tarasova, if carbon dioxide levels reach 560 parts per
million, or double their preindustrial levels, the feedback loop would
cause water vapor and clouds to increase atmospheric warming to a rate
that is three times as much as what the human-caused gases can do by
themselves.



“We shouldn't blame water vapor for making this place warmer,” she said.
Rather, she said, by limiting the emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrous
oxide and methane, people can balance the feedback loop and mitigate
future warming.

 

Peter 3:1-18:1 Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have
written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome
thinking. 2 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the
holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your
apostles. 3 First of all, you must understand that in the last days
scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4
They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our
fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of
creation." 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word
the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6
By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7
By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire,
being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8 But
do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like
a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is
not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is
patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to
repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The
heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by
fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 11 Since
everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you
to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to
the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the
destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the
heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new
heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 14 So then, dear
friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be
found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that
our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also
wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16 He writes the same way
in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters
contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and
unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own
destruction. 17 Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be
on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of
lawless men and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace
and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both
now and forever! Amen.

 

Wrong. It's a call to get off of fossil fuels. This report is not coming from politicians rather world leading scientists from the World Meteorological Organization. The republicans are still yelling drill baby drill. You know they got their hands in the pockets of big oil. Who knows, maybe be used to justify future military action? Yeah I know, a war about oil sounds ridiculous right?

 

Our oil exploration of the middle east goes back to 1933, perhaps a bit further back than that actually when we established diplomatic ties with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We were allies against communism and throughout that period steadily built our military presence to secure the region and its oil riches from the USSR as well as other nations. One article about current oil contracts in Iraq proves nothing and the "old" oil argument has not been proven false. If you really think the Iraq war was about keeping Saddam Hussein from getting a nuclear weapon, spreading democracy, and fighting terror, there's no need for further discussion.

 

You go to war and sacrifice blood and treasure to gain or sustain something, not kill your own troops and blow up your own equipment for the sake of refreshing the coffers and justify their existence. I see your point, but it leaves too much speculation before any facts can be revealed. The stuff of conspiracy theories.

 

I'm well aware of the military industrial complex and the power they wield. I'm open to the possibility of the complex starting a war for the sake of playing with new technology and keeping idle minds busy. God forbid those idle minds start to focus on matters such as cannabis legalization, environmental protection, and clean energy technologies. You know, that hippie stuff. Was Vietnam such a war? I can't say for sure, but it's as close as any I can think of. As far as our involvement in the Middle East, our number one priority is securing our oil interests.