Atmospheric CO2 Rising in Japan and Worldwide

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) announced on March 19 that concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) in Japan continued to rise in 2002, based on a study that reported increases of 2.0-2.4ppm up from 2001. Meanwhile, the CO2 concentration worldwide averaged 371ppm in 2001, up 33 percent from pre-Industrial Revolution levels.

Regular observations at the following three Japanese sites showed average CO2 concentrations in 2002 as follows: 375.8ppm in Ryori, Iwate Prefecture, 373.8ppm in Minamitori Island, Tokyo, and 375.5ppm in Yonaguni Island, Okinawa, all remote, sparsely populated areas. These figures indicate increases of 2.4ppm, 2.0ppm, and 2.0ppm, respectively. These are higher annual increases than average for all three sites.

The JMA says that the global land temperature in 2002, was the second highest since 1880, and this may have contributed to these record rises in CO2 concentrations. Higher temperatures stimulate respiratory activity in terrestrial creatures and decomposition of organic substances in the soil, so more CO2 is released into the atmosphere, accelerating the increase of its concentration.

To combat problems such as global warming and ozone depletion, the JMA has joined the Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) program of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and has been monitoring CO2 and other greenhouse gases. The agency also collects, manages, analyzes, and provides access to observation data from many countries.

http://gaw.kishou.go.jp/wdcgg.html

Posted: 2003/06/04 09:51:18 AM
Japanese version