CO2 and Global Temperature

Climate Change and Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide

Every once in a while I run into someone who doesn’t believe that there is a correlation between the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the mean global temperature. I don’t necessarily think that these people are stupid, but they are certainly misinformed. So here are some graphs that I took from the internet, cleaned up, and which just might convince otherwise those who believe that they know more about science than scientists. If you are unaware of my educational background, besides being a pretty good cartoonist, I’m also a PhD physicist (Robert S. Grace, Florida State University, 1971).

The first curve(1) plots the actual mean global temperature variation measured from around 1850 to the present day:

Screenshot

This next curve(2) plots the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. It’s a smoothed curve because there is a seasonal variation over the course of the year. For example, there is more CO2 in the winter than the summer because people are heating their houses. The more solid red line is derived from actual measurements begun by Charles Keeling3 in 1958.  The paler red curve is data inferred from ice cores:

Screenshot

For example, there is more CO2 in the winter than the summer because people are heating their houses. The more solid red line is derived from actual measurements begun by Charles Keeling3 in 1958.  The paler red curve is data inferred from ice cores:

Here I’ve normalized the two graphs and superimposed them:

Screenshot

Even a non-scientist should be able to see the correlation.

Thanks for your comments about my graphs on the relation between CO2 and global warming.  One of the comments was by Steve A:

Bud –

The primary problem appears to be in what ‘scientists’ are doing to make data fit their hypothesis and what governments are doing to impose unrealistic conclusions and laws on society.

Al Gore’s infamous trumpeting of the ‘hockey stick curve’ of CO2 levels has been exposed as incomplete and misleading according to many scientific sources that were sequestered and penalized for differing views.

Here are some articles that I found to be more credible that what the mainstream media has broadcasted:

The “hockey stick” curve obscures Earth’s CO2 history
https://www.cfact.org/2021/04/15/the-co2-hockey-stick-curve-shields-the-history-of-earths-historical-levels-of-co2/

Man-made or natural global warming?
https://www.cfact.org/2023/01/05/man-made-or-natural-global-warming/

Greenpeace co-founder: Earth’s geologic history ‘fundamentally contradicts’ CO2 warming fears – Patrick Moore, Ph.D.
https://www.cfact.org/2014/02/26/greenpeace-co-founder-earths-geologic-history-fundamentally-contradicts-co2-warming-fears/

Climate change for Babies – Book review by Joe Bastardi – July 19th, 2022
https://www.cfact.org/2022/07/19/climate-change-for-babies-book-review/

As a response, these are the “scientists” that you referenced:

Your first reference was written by Ronald Stein. He has a BS in electrical engineering. Stein has been named as the private business spokesperson for the energy industry. In 2018 he won the “President’s Award” from the Western State Petroleum Industry4.

Your second reference, Daniel Nerbert, is a pediatrician5.

Third reference is Patrick Moore. He does have a credible education, and he did lead Canadian Greepeace for 15 years. He has a Bachelor of Science in forest biology at the University of British Columbia and a PhD in ecology on the administration of environmental law relating to the mining industry. He gradually changed his views over the years. He now is a spokesperson for various concerns including the nuclear industry, the logging industry and the genetic engineering industry. On a French television show, Patrick Moore claimed that Roundup was safe to drink, despite being toxic to humans.
During the interview, Moore dismissed the safety concerns associated with the herbicide, and went through his routine of false claims about glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup. But the host of the show surprised Moore and offered him a glass of Roundup to drink. Moore, cornered, refused the glass of Roundup and said, “I’m not an idiot.” Drinking glyphosate, of course, can be deadly, and there is evidence that Roundup causes cancer. Moore often makes reckless claims and statements, but rarely was he caught as openly as in this televised story, which has been shared around the world over multiple newscycles6 Here is the brief interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjJCHQ_Igq4

Fourth is Joe Bastardi. He’s a weatherman with a BS in meteorology7.

During his tenure President George W. Bush commissioned the American Academy of Sciences, the most highly educated, accomplished and smartest people in America, to investigate the question. They overwhelmingly concurred that greenhouse gas emissions is the principal cause of climate change8. Here is the report: https://www.aaas.org/resources/aaas-reaffirms-statement-climate-change

And if you look once more at the graph that I posted, and I’ve truncated it and compressed the abscissa:

 

Kind of looks like a hockey stick, doesn’t it?

References:

  1. https://berkeleyearth.org/global-temperature-report-for-2023/
  2. https://sealevel.info/co2.html
  3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keeling_Curve
  4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Stein_(energy_consultant)
  5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_W._Nebert
  6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Moore_(consultant)
  7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Bastardi
  8. https://www.aaas.org/resources/aaas-reaffirms-statement-climate-change