The rate of increase may not be increasing, but the total amount of CO2 continues to increase.
But I would take little comfort from making that fine distinction. This is not a problem with the science, or even the math. Its a problem with their English usage. If it continues at this rate long enough we will no longer be able to breathe, and way before we get to that point the climate will change drastically.
I think you and all those breathless commentators are simply confusing "increase" with "rate of increase". Just from the graph you posted, it is clear by inspection that the CO2 levels have gone up 8ppm in 4 years, or about half a percent per year. And from the other graphs posted here, that trend has shown no sign of letting up in decades.
The question we should be asking is how sensitive is the global heat engine to this change in CO2? Some indicators are more sensitive than others. The most sensitive indicator, Arctic sea ice, tells us something is going on. Maybe it's caused by sunspots, or nuclear power plants, or cosmic rays, but something is definitely happening. It simply cannot be ignored any longer.
Don't let the hyperbolic rhetoric of the AGW supporters, or its gleeful pointing out by the skeptics, reassure you there is no problem. There is a problem. Anyone who can read a graph can see that.
The Arctic ice is not only melting, the rate at which it is melting is increasing. Look at the dotted lines, or averages for the 1980s, 1990s and 2000's. Look at how the 2010's are starting to trend. That summer dip is not only dropping, its dropping faster every decade.
Current Events » in reply to Continuing CO2 drumbeat.
The CO2 is increasing.
The whole thread (31 posts)
- Continuing CO2 drumbeat.
- Here is how:
- The CO2 is increasing.
