Unprecedented CO2 surge shatters records, sparks climate alarm
Beneath the ice cover accumulated over thousands of years lies the history of carbon dioxide fluctuations, providing insight into Earth's climate from 50,000 years ago.
Scientists from Oregon State University, studying ice samples from Antarctica, have shown that the current rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration is occurring 10 times faster than at any other point in the last 50,000 years. Research conducted on an ice core taken from about 2 miles deep allowed researchers to reconstruct atmospheric changes from past millennia. Despite observing natural fluctuations in CO2 levels before, the study confirms that current changes are alarming. The conclusion is clear: fluctuations in CO2 concentration have never been so rapid.
The climate catastrophe is accelerating
Years ago, during the so-called Heinrich Event, carbon dioxide levels changed by 14 parts per million (ppm) over 55 years. Today, similar changes occur every 5-6 years, indicating a tenfold acceleration. This not only affects global water circulation but also drives climate changes.
Christo Buizert from Oregon State University explained that the Heinrich Event triggered a chain reaction impacting the tropical monsoon and westerly winds, which released CO2 from the oceans.
Ice cores as time capsules
Research on Antarctic ice is crucial for understanding ancient climates, aided by the consistently low temperatures that have not exceeded 32°F for hundreds of thousands of years. Although the oldest samples date back 2.7 million years, only a small part of the Antarctic ice sheet is suitable for research due to dynamic environmental conditions.
Kathleen Wendt from Oregon State University noted that the current rate of CO2 emissions increase, largely driven by human activity, is the fastest in recorded history.
As scientists have indicated, measurements of carbon dioxide concentration at Mauna Loa show that in 2023 it reached 426 ppm, significantly higher compared to previous years. While partially explained by the El Niño phenomenon, these accelerating climate changes affect billions of people worldwide.
Kathleen Wendt added that the Southern Ocean, which has thus far served as a CO2 sink, is losing its ability to accumulate this gas. As a result, significant changes in ocean water circulation could occur, further worsening the climate situation.
