April 24

Global atmospheric levels of two potent greenhouse gases rose significantly last year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increased by 0.6 percent or 19 billion tons, according to NOAA. Meanwhile, methane rose by 27 million tons after nearly a decade with little or no increase.

NOAA scientists released their findings in an annual update to the agency´s greenhouse gas index, which tracks data from 60 sites around the world.

The burning of coal, oil and gas are the primary sources of increasing carbon dioxide emissions.

The rate of increase in carbon dioxide concentrations accelerated over recent decades because of rising fossil fuel emissions, according to the administration. Since 2000, annual increases of 2 parts per million or more have been common, compared with 1.5 ppm annually in the 1980s and less than 1 ppm annually during the 1960s.

Methane levels rose last year for the first time since 1998. Rapidly growing industrialization in Asia and rising wetland emissions in the Arctic and tropics are the likely causes, according to the federal agency.

NOAA´s annual greenhouse gas index is available online.

E-mail Waste News senior reporter Bruce Geiselman at bgeiselman@crain.com

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