For the first time, scientists measured an average concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide of 400 parts per million in Mauna Loa, Hawaii, where the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration observatory is located, on Thursday.

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Since 1960, the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide has risen from 310 to 390 parts per million.

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But the actual increase in its atmospheric concentration is a low exponent.

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This measures the amount of warming that can eventually be expected to follow a doubling in the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide.

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There are two main incentives for this, the first being the geological feature that natural gas is in finite supply and world production of it is thought might peak within the next few decades, and secondly that burning fossil carbon contributes to the atmospheric concentration of CO2, which scientific consensus accords will cause global warming and climate change.

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The warming effect is similar to that predicted from an elevation of the atmospheric CO2 concentration to 720 ppm.

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Those who pay honest attention to long-term climate patterns will note that atmospheric CO2 concentration fluctuations do not lead, but typically follow, temperature changes.

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It is thought too that as the atmospheric CO2 concentration increases, as it must with the continued burning of fossil fuels, the kinetic energy generation from the atmosphere will decrease thus further diminishing the amount of energy that may be sensibly extracted by wind-turbines on the very large scale.

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