Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere rose by more than two parts per million in each of two consecutive years, the first time in the 46-year record kept at Mauna Loa, Hawaii, by US scientist Charles Keeling. Readings climbed from 371.02 parts per million in 2001 to 373.10 in 2002, then to 375.64 in 2003.
Annual increases above two parts per million had been recorded only four times before: 1973, 1988, 1994, and 1998, all El Niño years. Neither 2001 nor 2002 was an El Niño year, leaving scientists without a clear explanation. Keeling suggested the carbon-absorbing capacity of oceans and forests might be declining as part of a warming feedback loop.
Climate experts counseled caution. David King, scientific adviser to Prime Minister Tony Blair, said the consecutive rises were "likely to be an anomaly." Peter Cox of Britain's Hadley Centre noted the increase was not uniform across the globe and pointed to Europe's severe 2003 summer heat and widespread forest fires as a possible source of unusual soil carbon releases in the Northern Hemisphere.
The data were set to be presented at a Greenpeace conference, and environmental groups urged governments to treat the findings as a reason to act on climate change rather than wait for further data.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this AFP wire report, first published in October 2004, in its own words.