Your Turn
Question: The rates of increase for carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane concentrations have been 2.5 ppm/year, 0.75 ppb/year, and 2.9 ppb/year respectively over the past 10 years. Find the current concentrations of these gases using the Climate Trends learning tool. Then predict the concentrations of these gases in 2050. Fill your answers in the box below to see if you are correct.
Predicted concentration in 2050:
CO2 (in ppm):
CO2 (in ppm):
To determine the answer to this question, you must first determine that the current concentration of carbon dioxide is roughly 392 ppm. If carbon dioxide continues to increase by 2.5 ppm per year, for the next 39 years (leading up to 2050), the concentration of carbon dioxide in 2050 will be roughly 490 ppm (392ppm + (39 years x 2.5 ppm/year)).
N2O (in ppb):
N2O (in ppb):
To determine the answer to this question, you must first determine that the current concentration of nitrous oxide is roughly 324 ppb. If the concentration continues to increase by 0.75 ppb per year, for the next 39 years (leading up to 2050), the concentration of carbon dioxide in 2050 will be roughly 352 ppb (324ppb + (39 years x 0.75 ppb/year)).
CH4 (in ppb):
CH4 (in ppb):
To determine the answer to this question, you must first determine that the concentration of methane was 1740 ppb in 2008. If the concentration continues to increase by 2.9 ppb per year, for the next 42 years (leading up to 2050), then the concentration of methane in 2050 will be roughly 1862 ppb (1740ppb + (42 years x 2.9 ppb/year)).