Figure 9. The following graph illustrates the rise in atmospheric nitrous oxide from 1978 to 2010. An extrapolation into the immediate future would suggest continued annual increases. (Image Copyright: Michael Pidwirny, Data Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Climate  Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory, http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/hats/combined/N2O.html).