BAMS_SOTC_2019_CO2_paleo_1000px.jpg

Global atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations (CO₂) in parts per million (ppm) for the past 800,000 years. The peaks and valleys track ice ages (low CO₂) and warmer interglacials (higher CO₂). During these cycles, CO₂ was never higher than 300 ppm. On the geologic time scale, the increase (orange dashed line) looks virtually instantaneous. Graph by NOAA Climate.gov based on data from NOAA NCEI Paleoclimatology Program.