Indicator: A-07 Greenhouse - carbon dioxide concentrations and growth rates
Data
Cape Grim monthly averaged atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) data in units of parts per million (ppm)
Source: CSIRO Atmospheric Research and Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station/Australian Bureau of Meteorology, January 2005
What the data mean
The data shows a steady increase in carbon dioxide concentrations over the reporting period, 1976 to 2004. The annual growth varies from one to three parts per million per annum.
Data Limitations
Nil known
Issues for which this is an indicator and why
Atmosphere — Climate variability and change - Greenhouse
Atmospheric constituents such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide contribute to a natural greenhouse effect and, with clouds, maintain the earth’s energy balance. The earth’s energy balance can change through increasing concentrations of these constituents in the atmosphere, as a result of human activities and natural events. Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and growth rates are a direct indicator for this issue
Other indicators for this issue:
- A-08 Greenhouse - change in total carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by gas
- A-38 Greenhouse - methane concentrations and growth rates
- A-39 Greenhouse - nitrous oxide concentrations and growth rates
- A-40 Greenhouse - change in total carbon dioxide equivalent emissions per capita and gross domestic product
- A-41 Greenhouse - climate change projections
- A-42 Greenhouse - carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by sector
- A-43 Greenhouse - carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by primary fuel type
- A-44 Greenhouse - carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by mode of travel and road transport emissions by vehicle type
- A-45 Greenhouse - agricultural sector carbon dioxide equivalent emissions
- A-46 Greenhouse - carbon dioxide equivalent emissions from land use, land use change and forestry
- Greenhouse - climate change projections
- LD-05 Terrestrial carbon loss rate and rate of land carbon sequestration
- LD-39 Change in biomass stock
- CO-03 Sea level
- CO-04 Sea surface temperature variability
- CO-44 Marine chlorophyll concentration
- CO-60 Sea salinity
- AAT-12 Changes in colonies of plants on Heard Island
- AAT-14 Ice sheet mass balance and sea ice extent
- AAT-15 Glacier movement
Further Information
Key
Links to another web site
Links to data in the DRS
Opens a pop-up window
Before you download
Some documents are available as PDF files. You will need a PDF reader to view PDF files.
List of PDF readers
If you are unable to access a publication, please contact us to organise a suitable alternative format.