Japan's Meteorological Agency Reports Record High Atmospheric CO2 for 2010

Copyright Japan Meteorological Agency

The concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere in Japan reached the highest levels ever in 2010, according to the latest figures released by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) on June 1, 2011. The annual mean CO2 concentration measured at JMA's three greenhouse gas monitoring stations - Ryori in Iwate Prefecture, Minamitorishima in the Ogasawara Islands, and Yonagunijima Island in Okinawa Prefecture- stood at 393.3 parts per million (ppm), 390.5ppm, and 392.7ppm, respectively. All were new records.

The CO2 concentrations observed at these stations have been on the rise over the past few decades. The annual mean growth rate over the past 10 years from 2001 to 2010 was 2.0ppm, up from 1.7ppm for the previous decade from 1991 to 2000. At Ryori, the CO2 concentration has risen by 42.1ppm since JMA launched the first long-term monitoring program there in 1987.

The CO2 concentration in the atmosphere usually peaks in early spring. As anticipated, the monthly average concentration in April 2011 reached an all-time high at Minamitorishima and Yonagunijima, at 396.4ppm and 398.4ppm, respectively. The April 2011 data at Ryori was not available due to the damage caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11.

2008 Report Shows 37% CO2 Increase since Industrial Revolution (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/029314.html
Atmospheric CO2 Rising in Japan and Worldwide (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/025258.html

Posted: 2011/09/28 06:00:15 AM