Carbon dioxide concentration level hits record high in Japan in 2016: weather agency

The average atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration level hit record high in Japan in 2016, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said on Wednesday.


According to a report released by the JMA, which observes surface concentrations of carbon dioxide at three stations in Japan, average level of carbon dioxide concentration has been on the rise every year since 1997, while the rise last year was larger than the average yearly growth over the past decade.

Average level of carbon dioxide concentration in 2016 rose 3.8 parts per million (ppm) from a year earlier to 407.2 ppm in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, was up 3.4 ppm to 404.9 ppm in Minamitori Island in the Ogasawara island chain, and up 3.2 ppm to 407.1 ppm in Yonaguni Island, Okinawa Prefecture, said the report.

The average yearly growth of carbon dioxide concentration over the past decade at the three observation stations were 2.2 ppm, 2.1 ppm, 2.2 ppm, respectively.

Among greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide is the most significant contributor to global warming. Its atmospheric concentration has increased as a result of emissions from various human activities such as fossil-fuel combustion, cement production and deforestation.

Japan is the world's fifth-largest emitter of greenhouse gasses.
   [globaltimes.cn/Xinhua]
1/6/17