Greenhouse Gases on Tenerife, such as CO2 and methane, continue to increase, accelerating climate change and affecting the environment.
Aemet presents the conclusions of the ‘Report on the State of the Climate in Spain in 2024,’ which confirms an increase in the factors causing climate change on the island. The Izaña Observatory records record levels of greenhouse gases.
Record Values
The Izaña Atmospheric Observatory (IZO), managed by the Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (Aemet), confirms that the growth rate of the main greenhouse gases – carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) – which cause climate change, continues to accelerate. The atmospheric concentration of CO2 reached a new historical record in 2024, and at the end of this month of May, a new continuous monitoring report will be presented, in which “the historical record will be broken again” and the annual linear average of 2 parts per million (ppm) per year will be confirmed, according to the research center on Tenerife.
Thus, the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) reached 424.3 parts per million (ppm) as the annual average in 2024, representing an increase of 3.4 ppm compared to the previous year. Since the start of measurements in 1984, CO2 has increased by 2 ppm per year, stated Rubén del Campo, spokesperson for the Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (Aemet), during the presentation of the conclusions of the Report on the State of the Climate in Spain 2024.
Effect
According to the records from the Izaña Atmospheric Observatory (IZO) on greenhouse gases, published in June 2024, the monthly average concentration in May was 427.45 ppm, which is an increase of 3.59 ppm compared to the previous record of 423.86 ppm registered in May 2023. It is important to note that the seasonal cycle reaches its peak in spring and then decreases, due to greater CO2 absorption caused by increased photosynthetic activity of vegetation. The arrival of autumn marks the beginning of the loss of vegetation cover, which has the opposite effect and leads to a gradual release of CO2 into the atmosphere.
More Oil and Gas
The increase in methane (CH4) between 2020 and 2024 was 12.53 ppm per year, while between 2014 and 2024 it had increased by 10.50 ppm per year. Although the presence of methane in the atmosphere is much lower than that of CO2, the danger of methane is associated with its high warming potential – 28 times more powerful than CO2 – making it much more effective in warming the atmosphere.
Like CO2, measurements in Izaña confirm that the presence of this gas in the atmosphere is increasing. Research is being conducted into potential natural sources, such as the thawing of permafrost – a large reservoir of CH4 – and anthropogenic sources related to the growth of extensive agriculture and livestock farming, as well as increased oil and gas production.
Global Reference
Similarly, the Mauna Loa Observatory (MLO) in Hawaii, whose measurement series began in 1958 and serves as a global reference, confirmed a monthly average concentration of 426.90 ppm in May 2024, an increase of 2.9 ppm compared to the value of 424 ppm recorded the previous year. Regarding methane, between 2020 and 2024, its increase was 14.07 ppm per year, while between 2014 and 2024 it had increased by 11.15 ppm per year.
Izaña and Mauna Loa, over 13,000 km apart, are both part of the Global Atmospheric Watch Program of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO-GAW). The fact that they record similar concentrations of CO2 and CH4 is not a coincidence; this is because their measurements are representative of the background atmospheric composition, as both are high-altitude stations located at similar latitudes, and their measurements are not directly influenced by anthropogenic pollution sources. All of this allows them to accurately measure long-term changes in global atmospheric composition.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the increase in greenhouse gases on Tenerife, particularly CO2 and methane, highlights the urgent need to combat climate change. It is essential that both local government and the community continue to commit to more sustainable practices and environmental conservation so that we can reduce the negative impact on nature and residents’ health. Monitoring atmospheric changes, as done at Izaña, plays a crucial role in understanding and addressing the consequences of climate change for the island.
Planet Canario © Photography
Greenhouse Gases on Tenerife ©
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