Tiempo Climate Newswatch

Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere reached a record high in 2004, though the rise that year was less than in the previous two years. Scientists at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii have reported a concentration of 378 parts per million by the end of the year. "The most striking thing about the data is that we've seen an increase in carbon dioxide levels every single year since 1958," said Pieter Tans of the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Monitoring Diagnostics Laboratory (CMDL).

Variations in the carbon dioxide growth rate from year to year are largely due to natural processes, such as changes in the oceans or biosphere. Human activity, though, is considered to be responsible for the persistent upward trend in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. According to David Hofmann, CMDL director, "even though man's contribution is not increasing dramatically - in fact it's steady - it is adding up; there's a cumulative increase."

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Background

• BBC
• Terra Daily

• Data visualization, CMDL

Australia is to name and shame major polluters in order to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Poor performers in the business sector will have their names and pollution records published on the internet, though no other penalty will be applied. "There's no point in us having a group of nations armed with Kyoto self-flagellating, bringing in new costs and penalties into their economies, while developing nations go on expanding rapidly," said environment minister Ian Campbell, repeating Australia's justification for not ratifying the Kyoto Protocol.

Under the new programme, the government will also certify products and services as not contributing to global warming. According to Campbell, "what we're doing is adding transparency to the system. We'll be able to advise consumers of products in Australia just which companies are the most greenhouse-friendly so that consumers can make informed decisions about supporting sustainable companies". With this programme, Australia would meet its Kyoto target without inflicting economic damage on the nation, reported industry minister Ian Macfarlane.

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• ENN

• Greenhouse Challenge Plus

The mild El Niño conditions that have affected the Pacific Ocean in recent months are fading, according to the latest assessment from the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. A continuing trend to neutral conditions is forecast over the next few months.

Lingering climate effects were still being felt during February 2005. Drier than normal weather affected Indonesia and northern Australia, while increased rainfall occurred over the central equatorial Pacific.

More information

• Delta Farm Press
• CBS News

• ENSO Diagnostic Discussion, NOAA
• ENSO Quick Look, IRI