On May 14-15, 2008, over 200 scientists form 20 countries will gather in Boulder, CO to hear 38 oral presentations and view 50 posters on the most recent data on the changing state of the global atmosphere. The Annual Global Monitoring Conference has been the venue for the first announcements of many emerging trends and findings yet to appear in the reviewed literature. This year the pattern continues.

Significance: Among new findings to be presented at the 2008 meeting are: The global CO2 growth rate is increasing exponentially with a doubling rate of 30 years explaining why the growth rate has gone from less than 1 ppm/year to more than 2 ppm/yr in 40 years; atmospheric CO2 concentrations may reach 700 ppm by 2100 if present trends continue; the growth rate of some HCFCs have accelerated substantially in the past few years; stratospheric aerosol concentrations have increased 50% between 2000 and 2008 even in the absence of volcanic inputs; the permafrost in the Arctic Coastal Plain near Barrow, AK has warmed 40 C since 1977; and the growth rate of methane, the second most important greenhouse gas, has started to increase after holding steady for the past decade. To see the agenda for the meeting and to view the abstracts go to: http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/annualconference