CO2 Concentration and Weight in Atmosphere

March 31, 2007 at 4:07 am (Environment, Statistic, World)

 

Monthly atmospheric CO2 records from 10 sites around the world is collected: Mauna Loa, Barrow, American Samoa, South Pole, Alert, Cape Kumukahi, Christmas Island, Baring Head, Kermadec Island, and La Jolla Pier. The concentration of CO2 in volume fraction (ppmv) is then translate into mass fraction and the weight of CO2 at particular year is then calculated (see previous post here).

The CO2 concentration in the atmosphere has steadily increased from 315 ppmv in 1958 to 376.8 ppmv in year 2004. However, the amount of CO2 (by weight) added in varies between 3244 to 19852 million tonnes/year. The high peaks of CO2 addition are seen at year 1969, 1973, 1988, 1998 and 2003.

List of Oil crisis occured since 1973:

1. 1973 Oil Crisis: the CO2 emission cut down from 16 600 to 10 700 million tonnes in 1974 and reduced further to 6 400 million tonnes, year 1975.
2. 1979 Energy Crisis: in 1980, the CO2 is still high at 14300 million tonnes and only decreased at the subsequent years (1981 and 82 – 10 000 and 7400 million tonnes respectively).
3. 1990 Oil price spike high (Gulf War): from 1990 to 91, a very slight increase of CO2 addition is seen but dropped to 6500 million tonnes in ’92 and further 6000 million tonnes in ’93. Overall, it is quite obvious to note that for the occurence of petroleum crisis, a decrease of CO2 addition is observed.
4. Oil price increase in 2004-06: further information on year 2005 and 2006 are required.

Source: Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center, Atmospheric Trace Gas Measurement