Greenhouse Gases Level Reached Record High in 2011: WMO Survey Revealed

World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on 20 November 2012 in the annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin revealed that the atmospheric volume of the greenhouse gases, which are often blamed for the change in atmosphere, had hit the record in 2011.

The volume of the main greenhouse gas- carbon dioxide grew at almost identical rate in previous 10 years and it touched 390.9 parts per million (ppm) or 40 percent above the pre-industrial level, as per the survey.

There had been an increase on an average by 2 ppm for last decade. Since the beginning of the industrial era from 1750, the fossil fuels had remained the main source of around 375 billion tonnes carbon which was released in atmosphere.

According to the secretary of WMO- General Michel Jarraud, around a billion tonnes of extra carbon dioxide would be there in the environment for centuries causing warming of planet even more. The oceans are already becoming acidic because of uptake of carbon dioxide and the repercussions are being faced by coral reefs and underwater food chains.

In past three years, the level of methane has also increased rapidly after leveling off for around 7 years. The third greenhouse gas- nitrous oxide had its volume increased in 2011. Nitrous Oxide has a long-term climatic impact which is 298 times larger than carbon dioxide.