The alarming news in this animated gif (just click on the pictures to the left) is that, “Measurements from ESA’s [European Space Agency] Envisat mission and Japan’s Greenhouse gases Observing Satellite, GOSAT, show that carbon dioxide increased by about 0.5% every year between 2003 and 2013.” More data also have shown that, “After years of stability, methane began increasing by 0.3–0.5% per year from 2007 on.” Earth seems to breathe, but increased levels of carbon dioxide may soon lead to suffocation. Seasonal fluctuations are caused by variations in the photosynthesis of vegetation, and observed “breathing” is largest in northern mid to high latitudes, where forests may “inhale” carbon dioxide in summer and partly “exhale” it during winter.

5 September 2013 @ 12:50 pm.

Last modified September 5, 2013.