CorrelateAI › Pairs
Atmospheric CO₂ (Mauna Loa) vs Arctic Sea Ice Extent (September)
Atmospheric CO₂ (Mauna Loa) and Arctic Sea Ice Extent (September) correlate at r = -0.89 over 47 years (1979–2025), p < 0.0001. With the time trend removed, r = +0.01. Likely spurious (shared time trend).
Verdict: Likely spurious (shared time trend). Both series mostly just trend over time. After removing that trend the correlation collapses to 0.01 — the relationship is probably coincidental, not causal.
- Pearson r
- -0.89
- p-value
- < 0.0001
- Years compared (n)
- 47 (1979–2025)
- 95% confidence interval
- -0.94 to -0.81
- Correlation with the time trend removed
- +0.01
Sources
- Atmospheric CO₂ (Mauna Loa) (ppm): NOAA GML. Annual mean atmospheric carbon dioxide measured at Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii (NOAA GML).
- Arctic Sea Ice Extent (September) (million km²): NSIDC. Mean Arctic sea ice extent in September, the yearly minimum (NSIDC Sea Ice Index).
Related pairs
- Atmospheric CO₂ (Mauna Loa) vs US GDP per Capita (r = +0.99)
- Atmospheric CO₂ (Mauna Loa) vs US Population (r = +0.99)
- Atmospheric CO₂ (Mauna Loa) vs US GDP (current US$) (r = +0.98)
- Atmospheric CO₂ (Mauna Loa) vs US Cereal Yield (r = +0.98)
- Atmospheric CO₂ (Mauna Loa) vs Atmospheric Methane (global) (r = +0.98)
- Atmospheric CO₂ (Mauna Loa) vs US Adult Obesity (r = +0.98)
Correlation does not imply causation. How the verdict is worked out.