Atmospheric carbon dioxide hits record high 24 March 04

Atmospheric concentrations of the principal greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, hit 376 parts per million in 2003, according to US-based NOAA scientists taking air samples on Mauna Loa in Hawaii. Most worrying, perhaps, is the massive 2.5ppm jump from the previous year – much larger than the average 1.5ppm annual increase over the last few decades. This is yet another warning sign that despite all the international talk about dealing with climate change, underlying trends continue to take us ever closer to catastrophe. More in NewScientist.