CO2 concentrations reach their highest level in the modern era.

[Jehanne]

It happened on January 12, 2019 with a peak of 413.45 ppm:

Daily CO2 now

[Alan V]

It happened on January 12, 2019 with a peak of 413.45 ppm:

Daily CO2 now

The sawtooth pattern of the increase of CO₂ in the atmosphere since 1958 is called the Keeling Curve. CO₂ varies about 8 ppm on a seasonal cycle, due to deciduous trees taking up CO₂ in the spring and releasing it in the fall in the northern hemisphere.

In other words, the winter peaks are not representative of the average for the whole year. I'm not sure what the average is right now, but it's somewhere above 405 ppm anyway.

The average is increasing about 2.5 ppm per year. Since 450 ppm will lead to 2 degrees C of warming over the preindustrial, we have less than 20 years of business-as-usual burning of fossil fuels before critical positive feedback loops kick in in big ways.

[Jehanne]

It happened on January 12, 2019 with a peak of 413.45 ppm:

Daily CO2 now

The sawtooth pattern of the increase of CO₂ in the atmosphere since 1958 is called the Keeling Curve. CO₂ varies about 8 ppm on a seasonal cycle, due to deciduous trees taking up CO₂ in the spring and releasing it in the fall in the northern hemisphere.

In other words, the winter peaks are not representative of the average for the whole year.  I'm not sure what the average is right now, but it's somewhere above 405 ppm anyway.

The average is increasing about 2.5 ppm per year.  Since 450 ppm will lead to 2 degrees C of warming over the preindustrial, we have less than 20 years of business-as-usual burning of fossil fuels before critical positive feedback loops kick in in big ways.

Look at the data more closely, if you would; CO2 levels worldwide typically peak around April or May, which means that the recent high here in January will be broken.

[Yonadav]

The sawtooth pattern of the increase of CO₂ in the atmosphere since 1958 is called the Keeling Curve. CO₂ varies about 8 ppm on a seasonal cycle, due to deciduous trees taking up CO₂ in the spring and releasing it in the fall in the northern hemisphere.

In other words, the winter peaks are not representative of the average for the whole year.  I'm not sure what the average is right now, but it's somewhere above 405 ppm anyway.

The average is increasing about 2.5 ppm per year.  Since 450 ppm will lead to 2 degrees C of warming over the preindustrial, we have less than 20 years of business-as-usual burning of fossil fuels before critical positive feedback loops kick in in big ways.

Look at the data more closely, if you would; CO2 levels worldwide typically peak around April or May, which means that the recent high here in January will be broken.

I think that Thor was just rounding out your post with a little more information since your post was about a single data point. No one disputes that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has been rising on average. A single data point in January is not enough to predict a higher average measure in April or May.

[Jehanne]

Look at the data more closely, if you would; CO2 levels worldwide typically peak around April or May, which means that the recent high here in January will be broken.

I think that Thor was just rounding out your post with a little more information since your post was about a single data point. No one disputes that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has been rising on average. A single data point in January is not enough to predict a higher average measure in April or May.

It's a milestone, one that will be broken come April or May, if not sooner.  That was the purpose of my OP; note how Donald Trump has completely ignored this very important milestone (at least until next year or the year after) in human history.

[Alan V]

Look at the data more closely, if you would; CO2 levels worldwide typically peak around April or May, which means that the recent high here in January will be broken.

I didn't know CO₂ peaked in May. Thanks for the information.

[Yonadav]

I think that Thor was just rounding out your post with a little more information since your post was about a single data point. No one disputes that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has been rising on average. A single data point in January is not enough to predict a higher average measure in April or May.

It's a milestone, one that will be broken come April or May, if not sooner.  That was the purpose of my OP; note how Donald Trump has completely ignored this very important milestone (at least until next year or the year after) in human history.

I don't know if it will be broken in April or May. It might be. On average, carbon dioxide is certainly going up.

[Jehanne]

It's a milestone, one that will be broken come April or May, if not sooner.  That was the purpose of my OP; note how Donald Trump has completely ignored this very important milestone (at least until next year or the year after) in human history.

I don't know if it will be broken in April or May. It might be. On average, carbon dioxide is certainly going up.

I would be willing to bet $100.

[Yonadav]

I don't know if it will be broken in April or May. It might be. On average, carbon dioxide is certainly going up.

I would be willing to bet $100.

I would not be willing to bet on it. I don't know the odds.

[Jehanne]

I would be willing to bet $100.

I would not be willing to bet on it. I don't know the odds.

I would, but one and only 1 time.  Board rules, however, probably forbid this type of "gambling".