How can this be?

[victor]

Global carbon dioxide levels have hit a record high despite reports of localised improvements in air quality due to the coronavirus lockdown, according to reports.

[Workingman]

This article might help.

It shows the swings and roundabouts effects. We do one thing in one area / sector only for us to do other things in others areas / sectors. It also shows that despite endless meetings / conferences / symposiums and congresses we have not got a handle on the overall problem(s).

The tens of millions of words written and spoken are never matched by any meaningful deeds.

[Suff]

Victor, CO2 is self reinforcing and the changes we have wrought in the environment don't stop just because we took a few months off poisoning the liveable biosphere.

Carbon locked up in permafrost continues to emit as the Arctic melts. Methane in the atmosphere continues to break down into CO2 and a lot of human methane emissions come from animal farming which has not stopped at all.

Air travel is a small proportion of human CO2 emissions and shutting down the planes doesn't affect. More than 8% of emissions for this measure. It has more impact than ground emissions but doesn't change the figures much.

Then there is the summer/winter balance, el nino/la nina which all impact the figures

We haven't had a really large volcanic eruption since Mt Pinatubo in the 90's which caused 2 years of lower figures.

If we look at it that way, our background emissions from power stations, trucks, shipping, gas CH at home, farming and land change, etc, is driving AGW on its own. Cars, factories, planes.. They are just the icing on the cake for AGW.

We.will.see.the.impact of Covid around Dec. It won't be much but it will be visible.

The NOOA CO2 stats are here.

Enjoy.

[Workingman]

Victor, CO2 is self reinforcing and the changes we have wrought in the environment don't stop just because we took a few months off poisoning the liveable biosphere.

10/10. And let's not forget that the figures run from April to April. Apart from China the big emitters did not slow down till late Feb or mid March - a drop in the ocean, so to speak.

We have already done enough damage to the environment that natural stores are now being released, stores that would have stayed locked in for hundreds or thousands of years without our help. Even if we stopped emitting anything from tomorrow those stores will continue to escape and add to the top line figure.