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Atmospheric CO₂ (Mauna Loa) vs US Electricity Generation
Atmospheric CO₂ (Mauna Loa) and US Electricity Generation correlate at r = +0.87 over 41 years (1985–2025), p < 0.0001. With the time trend removed, r = -0.77. Direction flips without the trend.
Verdict: Direction flips without the trend. The raw correlation is 0.87, but once each series' time trend is removed it becomes -0.77. The year-to-year movements run the opposite way to the long-run trends, so the headline number is misleading.
- Pearson r
- +0.87
- p-value
- < 0.0001
- Years compared (n)
- 41 (1985–2025)
- 95% confidence interval
- 0.77 to 0.93
- Correlation with the time trend removed
- -0.77
Sources
- Atmospheric CO₂ (Mauna Loa) (ppm): NOAA GML. Annual mean atmospheric carbon dioxide measured at Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii (NOAA GML).
- US Electricity Generation (TWh): Our World in Data. US Electricity Generation (Our World in Data: Total electricity).
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.