Atmospheric Concentration of CO2 Reaches All-Time High in Japan

Copyright The Japan Meteorological Agency

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) announced on May 19, 2009, that the average atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) at the stations that observe greenhouse gas levels in 2008 marked a record high, and that the atmospheric concentration of CO2 from March to April in 2009 reached an all-time high since observations began.

The JMA observes atmospheric CO2 concentrations at three stations: Ryori, Ofunato City in Iwate Prefecture, Minamitorishima Island, Ogasawara Island in Tokyo, and Yonagunijima Island, Yaeyama in Okinawa. The observation results at these three sites in 2008 showed average CO2 concentrations of 388.5ppm, 386.6ppm, 388.0ppm, respectively, each marking the highest level ever. In this decade, the CO2 concentrations have increased by 1.9ppm per year. In Ryori, where the first domestic long-term observation was launched, the average CO2 concentration has increased by 37.3ppm since observations began in 1987.

Atmospheric CO2 concentrations peak during the spring season. In 2009, all observation stations recorded the highest atmospheric CO2 between March and April; observed levels in Ryori (April), Minamitorishima Island (March) and Yonagunijima Island (April) were 395.3ppm, 390.8ppm and 393.2ppm, respectively.

The Japan Meteorological Agency official website
http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/indexe.html
JMA Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
http://ds.data.jma.go.jp/ghg/kanshi/ghgp/
co2_e.html

Posted: 2009/08/13 06:00:15 AM