Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere were found to have posted the highest level last year.
 
The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said Friday that the World Meteorological Organization measured carbon dioxide levels in 124 observation stations across the globe and found that the average carbon dioxide concentration stood at 396 parts per million (ppm) last year. The levels are up around 42 percent from the ones posted in 1750 before the Industrial Revolution took place.
 
In particular, the average carbon dioxide concentration on the Korean Peninsula stood at 402-point-four ppm last year. The figure has surpassed 400 ppm for the first time since 2002.
 
Meanwhile, the global average concentration level of methane surged 153 percent compared to the period before the Industrial Revolution, while the level of nitrous oxide grew 21 percent during the same period.
 
The KMA said since 1880, the Earth’s average temperature has risen zero-point-85 degrees Celsius. The agency said temperatures are inevitably expected to rise with the increase in greenhouse gas emissions.