The concentration of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide has also increased since the industrial revolution. Nitrous oxide is produced naturally by various reactions in the nitrogen cycle. However, humans have increased nitrous oxide emissions through the use of synthetic fertilizers, sewage treatment and certain industrial processes.
Ice core analysis indicates that the pre-industrial concentration of nitrous oxide was 0.275 ppm, while current atmospheric monitoring shows that the concentration of nitrous oxide is now 0.312 ppm.
Your Turn
The concentrations of many greenhouse gases have increased dramatically since the Industrial Revolution. Of the concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, which greenhouse gas concentration has undergone the largest percent increase in the last 250 years? Use the Climate Trends Learning Tool to help you answer this question.
According to the Climate Trends Learning Tool, carbon dioxide concentrations have increased from about 278 ppm to 392 ppm over the last 250 years. This is an increase of:
According to the Learning Tool, methane concentrations have increased from approximately 710 ppb to 1740 ppb (or 0.710 ppm to 1.74 ppm) over the last 250 years. This is an increase of:
According to the Learning Tool, nitrous oxide concentrations have increased from approximately 275 ppb to 324 ppb (or 0.275 ppm to 0.324 ppm) over the last 250 years. This is an increase of:
Therefore, the concentration of methane has undergone the largest percent increase since the Industrial Revolution, with an increase of approximately 145%.