Temporal and spatial variations in greenhouse gas concentrations need to be elucidated precisely for a deeper understanding of the mechanism of global warming, which will lead to more accurate projections of the phenomenon.
JMA observes concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, surface ozone, carbon monoxide and halocarbons, and monitors their global trends by analyzing observation data reported from all over the world.
* Carbon monoxide itself is not a greenhouse gas, but affects the concentrations of greenhouse gases.
* Chlorofluorocarbons not only destroy stratospheric ozone but also warm the global atmosphere as greenhouse gases.
* Hydrofluorocarbons do not destroy stratospheric ozone, but are known to cause global atmospheric warming due to their properties as greenhouse gases.
