Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Levels

In the realm of climate science, a New Zealand-based researcher named Kim Currie of NIWA (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research) is making significant strides in understanding the intricacies of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2).

For nearly four decades, CO2 levels have been meticulously measured at Baring Head, a coastal location in New Zealand. This long-standing record, spanning over four decades, is the world's longest continuous record of radiocarbon carbon dioxide (CO2).

The concept of a carbon sink, discussed in the Connected article, is closely linked to Kim's work. The addition of CO2 to the atmosphere, primarily from the burning of fossil fuels by humans, has led to a dilution of the gas. However, the decrease in CO2 levels is not solely due to radioactive decay but also due to uptake by the ocean, plants, and soil on land.

Kim's research extends beyond the atmosphere, delving into the CO2 levels in the ocean around New Zealand. Early models suggested that the ocean would absorb so much CO2 that it would start releasing it back into the atmosphere. However, this prediction did not materialise, with the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere levelling out by the early 2000s, suggesting that the amounts of CO2 moving from ocean to atmosphere and from atmosphere to ocean were balanced.

The graph of atmospheric carbon dioxide increase, famously known as the Keeling curve, originates from measurements at Mauna Loa, Hawaii. Yet, the long-term collection of data at places such as Baring Head, Wellington, has allowed scientists to observe important patterns. The data collected by Kim and her team is added to models that try to explain changes observed over the last 60 years.

Since 1970, 'normal' carbon dioxide has also been measured at Baring Head, making it the longest running record in the southern hemisphere. The CO2 levels in the atmosphere rose in the 1950s and 60s due to nuclear bomb testing but have since dropped and levelled out.

It is important to note that the New Zealand researcher associated with measuring carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and ocean is not explicitly named in the provided search results. However, Kim Currie's groundbreaking work in this field is making her a notable figure in the global fight against climate change.

Intriguingly, the history of 50 years of CO2 measurements is detailed in a Radio NZ article and podcast about Carbon Watch NZ. The current interest in global warming has made the Keeling curve well-known, but the history of measuring CO2 extends further back than many realise.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, humans added a lot more radioactive C to the atmosphere through nuclear bomb testing. Most of this radioactive carbon has been taken up by the ocean, and most of the rest by plants and soil on land.

As we continue to grapple with the implications of climate change, the work of scientists like Kim Currie is crucial in helping us understand the past, present, and potential future of our atmosphere.