Heatwave in Europe next week could be worst in recorded history with temps over 38°C
Meanwhile Global Carbon Dioxide Emissions Set New Record
In June of this year, the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii recorded an average concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide above 410 parts per million (ppm). This was the highest monthly average in recorded history, and in fact according to ice core records it is the highest value in at least 800,000 years.
As of June 29 levels are even higher at 411.95ppm.
The worrisome part is that the trend isn't expected to change anytime soon. Carbon dioxide that is emitted today takes time to accumulate in the atmosphere, and then it remains in the atmosphere for thousands of years.
In any case, there are no signs that what we are emitting is slowing down.
The 2018 BP Statistical Review of World Energy that was released earlier this month showed a new all-time high for global carbon dioxide emissions in 2017, which were 426 million metric tons higher than in 2016. This was 1.6% higher than carbon dioxide emissions in 2016, and was higher than the 10-year average growth rate of 1.3%.
Since the Kyoto Protocol -- the international treaty that commits state parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions -- went into effect in 2005, global carbon dioxide emissions have increased by 19%.
The countries responsible for the increase in carbon dioxide concentrations have shifted in recent decades. Developed countries are moving away from coal, and toward cleaner natural gas and renewables. Developing countries -- even those that are embracing renewable energy -- emit the most carbon dioxide, and their emissions are growing at the fastest rates in the world.
In June of this year, the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii recorded an average concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide above 410 parts per million (ppm). This was the highest monthly average in recorded history, and in fact according to ice core records it is the highest value in at least 800,000 years.
As of June 29 levels are even higher at 411.95ppm.
The worrisome part is that the trend isn't expected to change anytime soon. Carbon dioxide that is emitted today takes time to accumulate in the atmosphere, and then it remains in the atmosphere for thousands of years.
In any case, there are no signs that what we are emitting is slowing down.
The 2018 BP Statistical Review of World Energy that was released earlier this month showed a new all-time high for global carbon dioxide emissions in 2017, which were 426 million metric tons higher than in 2016. This was 1.6% higher than carbon dioxide emissions in 2016, and was higher than the 10-year average growth rate of 1.3%.
Since the Kyoto Protocol -- the international treaty that commits state parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions -- went into effect in 2005, global carbon dioxide emissions have increased by 19%.
The countries responsible for the increase in carbon dioxide concentrations have shifted in recent decades. Developed countries are moving away from coal, and toward cleaner natural gas and renewables. Developing countries -- even those that are embracing renewable energy -- emit the most carbon dioxide, and their emissions are growing at the fastest rates in the world.
It has been dry and warm/hot in Britain for weeks, though so far the temperatures have been nothing near 40C and aren't expected to be in the next week. For the last week, temperatures have maxed at 30-33C somewhere almost every day - that's not that uncommon in southern England or the Midlands, but it is when it happens on the coast of North Wales or in Scotland.
So far there have been two major moorland fires, both near Manchester. The first, on Saddleworth Moor, was huge and the Army was called in - it's under control now, ie not spreaading but still smouldering over several square miles.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...land-fire-declared-a-major-incident-by-police
The second, near Bolton and Chorley, hasn't been so big but seems to be still spreading - fire brigades from as far away as Tyneside and Warwickshire have been called in to help.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...-counties-fight-greater-manchester-moor-fires
Heather fires look dramatic but mostly don't do that much long-term damage - the heather roots are normally OK so it grows again, and there's not normally many houses on or very close to the moorlands. But if the heather is growing on peat (vey often it is) and the peat is dry enough to catch fire that's a very different matter - there can be up to 2-4 m of peat on many of our moorlands, accumulated over several thousand years, and once fire gets into it it's almost impossible to put out, it will burn until there is prolonged heavy rain or all the peat is gone. A deep peat fire can even kep burning underground all winter. I think the peat at Saddleworth is well alight, I'm not sure about the other fire. And of course that's several thousand years' worth of stored carbon released, without even any useful electricity generated or whatever.
The smoke plume from the fires is visible from space, extending right out into the Irish Sea.
So far there have been two major moorland fires, both near Manchester. The first, on Saddleworth Moor, was huge and the Army was called in - it's under control now, ie not spreaading but still smouldering over several square miles.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...land-fire-declared-a-major-incident-by-police
The second, near Bolton and Chorley, hasn't been so big but seems to be still spreading - fire brigades from as far away as Tyneside and Warwickshire have been called in to help.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...-counties-fight-greater-manchester-moor-fires
Heather fires look dramatic but mostly don't do that much long-term damage - the heather roots are normally OK so it grows again, and there's not normally many houses on or very close to the moorlands. But if the heather is growing on peat (vey often it is) and the peat is dry enough to catch fire that's a very different matter - there can be up to 2-4 m of peat on many of our moorlands, accumulated over several thousand years, and once fire gets into it it's almost impossible to put out, it will burn until there is prolonged heavy rain or all the peat is gone. A deep peat fire can even kep burning underground all winter. I think the peat at Saddleworth is well alight, I'm not sure about the other fire. And of course that's several thousand years' worth of stored carbon released, without even any useful electricity generated or whatever.
The smoke plume from the fires is visible from space, extending right out into the Irish Sea.
Similar threads
