A Global Decline In Carbon Monoxide!

The widespread adoption of cleaner-burning technologies and declines in fire activity over the past 2 decades has drawn down the global levels of this pollutant.

For more than 2 years, NASA’s Terra satellite has measured atmospheric concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO). The good news is that the average levels of this pollutant have dropped by 15% since 2000! This is so good because we are starting to see a change in ourselves! However, the rate of decline has decreased from 1 percent per year to 0.5 percent per year over the years.

We have seen Carbon Monoxide levels drop because cleaner-burning technologies are more common in the United States, West Europe, and Eastern China. This has become more common because of the strict laws these countries have passed regarding cleaner burning. We have also seen a decrease in the number of fires burning and burned areas, said Rebecca Buchholz who is an atmospheric scientist at the US National Center Atmospheric Research (NCAR)

The burning of carbon-based fuels of any type including – oil, natural gas, coal, and wood can emit Carbon Monoxide. As a result, many technologies which use fire are the main causes of wildfires. Outdoor Fires and Agricultural Fires are the main causes of carbon monoxide emission. Natural sources also emit this pollutant. Volcano eruptions etc emit toxic gases including Carbon Monoxide which toxify the atmosphere.

Let’s keep up the excellent work so that eventually, we can reduce wildfires to make our beloved earth a better place to live!

Author: Sri Nihal Tammana

Source: NASA Earth Observatory