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Unexplained Leap In CO2 Levels

Posted by Hemos on from the when-not-if? dept.

Cally writes "The Guardian is reporting that atmospheric CO2 concentrations have leapt by 4.5 ppm in the last two years. This raises the ugly possibility that the capacity of a large carbon sink (possibly the oceans) has been exceeded, and the worst-case scenario is that a tipping point has been reached and a runaway warming scenario is in progress. Quote from Dr. Piers Foster of Reading University: 'If this is a rate change, of course it will be very significant. It will be of enormous concern, because it will imply that all our global warming predictions for the next hundred years or so will have to be redone.'"

4 of 1,215 comments (clear)

  1. The cause is obvious... by aborchers · · Score: 5, Funny

    We're in the run up to an election in the US. It's all the candidates hot air...

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    Trouble making decisions? Just flip for it.
    1. Re:The cause is obvious... by kabocox · · Score: 5, Funny

      We're in the run up to an election in the US. It's all the candidates hot air...

      Does that mean if we join that Kyoto thingy, we'd have to have our elections once a decade to meet emissions requirements?

  2. More on trailers and trash by Vintermann · · Score: 4, Funny

    Um, it may be that you are indeed an "informed scientist" in some field, but if you expect this to influence our views, it's probably wise to trade your nickname, "Trailer Trash", for something more impressive, even though that would cost you your five-digit user ID...

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    xkcd is not in the sudoers file. This incident will be reported.
  3. Re:More on sinks by keli · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... continue their quest on attempting to collect more shiny things then their neighbors.
    [emphasis mine]

    Yes those neighbour-collecting neoconservatives can be a pain in the behind. :-P