Video documents atmospheric concentrations of CO2 over thousands of years

May 6, 2014 14:18 GMT  ·  By

If human society is to take credit for messing up the planet by releasing way too much greenhouse gases into its atmosphere, it might as well take the time to do it properly. From where I stand, the video below might just do the trick.

The footage documents atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide over thousands of years, and it shows that, ages ago, Earth did not have all that many greenhouse gases to have a chat with.

However, as of recently, there is one thing our planet has found it impossible to complain about, and this something is a lack of carbon dioxide in its atmosphere.

Thus, it appears that, whereas some 2,000 years ago, atmospheric concentrations of said greenhouse gas revolved around 280 parts per million, the Industrial Revolution helped push them well over 350 parts per million, which is considered to be the safe upper limit.

Since 1989, when carbon dioxide concentrations in Earth's atmosphere reached the 350 parts per million threshold, things have gotten even worse. Thus, scientists have recently documented atmospheric concentrations of said greenhouse gas as being 350 parts per million.

As shown by several studies, carbon dioxide need be listed among the contributors of climate change and global warming. Hence, it should not come as a surprise that scientists keep pestering us that having loads of it floating above our heads is not in the least something to look forward to.

Just for the record, the picture above is not taken from the video.