Carbon dioxide in atmosphere spikes to new high

In the past month, atmospheric carbon dioxide reached 420 parts per million for the first time. That’s a 50 percent increase from pre-industrial levels.

The measurement was recorded at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, where Charles Keeling began measuring carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and where it has been measured continuously since.

Keeling’s son, Ralph Keeling with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, has continued that work. He joined Climate Cast this week.

Click play on the audio player above or subscribe to the Climate Cast podcast to hear the conversation.