The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has confirmed the acceleration of the growth rate of the main greenhouse gases through the Izaña observatory in Tenerife. In May, this station recorded a record atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2).
The average CO2 concentration in May at this station, located in the Teide National Park, was 427.45 parts per million (ppm), representing an increase of 3.59 ppm compared to the previous peak of 423.86 ppm recorded in May 2023.
In parallel, the Mauna Loa Observatory (Hawaii), whose data series began in 1958 and serves as a global reference, reported that the average monthly concentration in May was 426.90 ppm, an increase of 2.9 ppm compared to the value of 424 ppm recorded the previous year.
Although these readings are preliminary, the final ones will not differ significantly, as indicated by Aemet, which emphasises that the fact that both observatories, separated by more than 13,000 kilometres, record similar concentrations is “not a coincidence”.
[–>
Aemet indicates that the observations from Izaña and Mauna Loa are representative of the background atmospheric composition, given that both are high-mountain stations located at similar latitudes, and their measurements are not directly affected by anthropogenic pollution sources.
This allows them to accurately measure the long-term changes in global atmospheric composition.
To put into context the negative impact of human activity on the atmosphere and therefore on climate change, Aemet compares current CO2 readings to the 280 ppm that existed at the beginning of the industrial revolution.
The analysis of the monthly average concentration of this gas recorded at Izaña since 1984 allows for the identification of, on the one hand, an annual seasonal cycle associated with the exchange of CO2 between the atmosphere and the biosphere and, on the other hand, a growing trend associated with anthropogenic emissions.
The seasonal cycle peaks in spring and then decreases due to increased CO2 absorption caused by the enhanced photosynthetic activity of vegetation, explained Aemet in the statement.
The arrival of autumn marks the start of the loss of vegetative cover, leading to the opposite effect and a progressive release of CO2 into the atmosphere.
