Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide levels, passed a symbolic mark over the last few days reaching more than 400 parts per million for the first time. The last time CO2 levels were above this level was 3-5 million years ago when the climate was considerably warmer than it is today. Scientists say the CO2 is one of the most important of the Greenhouse Gases and is closely linked with rising temperatures across the globe. The burning of fossil fuels is a major contribution to the CO2 levels at this time. The measurements have been taken since 1958 at the Mauna Lau Volcano in Hawaii and is expected that the levels will drop as the Northern Hemisphere goes into summer time and forests and vegetation pull out some of the CO2, however the long term trend is expected to continue to rise. The point reached doesn't give any significance to changes in the climatic system but it just shows a mark of rising CO2.
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