CO2 levels in our atmosphere increasing

By Ron Sadler, Jamestown Today at 7:13 AM Listen Comments Share Share this article Opinion Opinion Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data. The Trust Project What is this? For most of our Earth’s history, carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere have ranged between 180 and 280 parts per million. When CO2 levels were around 280 parts per million, the corresponding Earth temperature could sustain life. When CO2 levels were around 180 parts per million were times of ice ages. ADVERTISEMENT For the first time in the history of Earth, CO2 reached 300 ppm in 1950. Today, CO2 levels have reached 425 PPM — a 42% increase in just 75 years! An unheard-of rate of change to a level our world has never experienced. Carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere acts like a blanket, holding heat in and preventing it from being released back into space. The more the CO2, the thicker the blanket. The thicker the blanket, the warmer our world gets. And just like being under a blanket, it takes a while to warm up. Earth has just gotten under the blanket, and temperatures have just started to rise. It is very clear; as the species that is killing our planet, we must be the ones to save it. Please take action today. Our world needs you. Comments Share Share this article Opinion Opinion Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data. The Trust Project What is this? Tags Tags READERS VIEW CLIMATE CHANGE Listen to this article Conversation ADVERTISEMENT What To Read Next Letters Hogs help create room for the next generation 40m ago · By Justin Quandt, Oakes, North Dakota Letters New Leaf solar project isn't right for Fried Township 55m ago · By Kari Orr Diop, Jamestown Letters Fund school meals, but not at the expense of certain areas 59m ago · By Bob Toso, Jamestown ADVERTISEMENT Get Local Must Reads North Dakota Voters in 2 North Dakota counties reject property tax increases 2d ago · By Jack Dura / North Dakota Monitor North Dakota North Dakota's Pembina Gorge State Park completes first season 4d ago · By Maxwell Marko Local The Jamestown Sun's Wednesday print edition expected to be delivered Thursday 16h ago Lifestyle What if this winter’s forecast holds true? 4d ago · By Don Kinzler