'Unexpected growth' in CO2 found

Inefficient use of fossil fuels has been singled out

Carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere have risen 35% faster than expected since 2000, says a study.

International scientists found that inefficiency in the use of fossil fuels increased levels of CO2 by 17%.

The other 18% came from a decline in the natural ability of land and oceans to soak up CO2 from the atmosphere.

About half of emissions from human activity are absorbed by natural "sinks" but the efficiency of these sinks has fallen, the study suggests.

The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), was carried out by the Global Carbon Project, the University of East Anglia, UK, and the British Antarctic Survey.

It found that improvements in the carbon intensity of the global economy have stalled since 2000, leading to an unexpected jump in atmospheric CO2.

"In addition to the growth of global population and wealth, we now know that significant contributions to the growth of atmospheric CO2 arise from the slow-down of natural sinks and the halt to improvements in the carbon intensity of wealth production," said the study's lead author, Dr Pep Canadell, executive director of the Global Carbon Project.

Global sink

The weakening of the Earth's ability to cope with greenhouse gases is thought to be a result of changing wind patterns over seas and droughts on land.

"The decline in global sink efficiency suggests that stabilisation of
atmospheric CO2 is even more difficult to achieve than previously thought," said report co-author Dr Corinne Le Quere of the British Antarctic Survey.

"We found that nearly half of the decline in the efficiency of the ocean CO2 sink is due to the intensification of the winds in the Southern Ocean."

The declining power of the seas to soak up industrial pollution is not only being recorded in the southern hemisphere, however.

According to a separate 10-year study published recently, the effect is also being seen in the North Atlantic.

Stock up on food and water.

That is the same stuff "we" breath out right? Also comes from various mechanical critters? Factors?

No wonder the atmosphere is being Over dosed with CO2

-RMS Carpathia-

Food and water won't help much if you can't breathe.

So many people can do a lot without having to make a huge lifestyle change. Heck, something as simple as turning your heater down two degrees, and wearing warmer clothing in the house can make a huge impact.

I try to hold off using my heating for as long as possible,and top up on an extra layer of clothing first.

I guess I got used to doing this when I lived in a house with no mod heating and if I didnt use clothing to keep me warm, I basically sat shivering.

Its amazing just how warm we can keep ourselves without having to use things that can harm the atmosphere

I have gas masks for me and the wife. Enough filters for 5k hours a piece. Some filtration boxes that turn co2 to oxygen. And enough tactical gear and guns to protect my home.