Atmospheric CO₂ (Mauna Loa) vs US Nuclear Power Generation

Atmospheric CO₂ (Mauna Loa) and US Nuclear Power Generation correlate at r = +0.88 over 61 years (1965–2025), p < 0.0001. With the time trend removed, r = -0.91. Direction flips without the trend.

Verdict: Direction flips without the trend. The raw correlation is 0.88, but once each series' time trend is removed it becomes -0.91. The year-to-year movements run the opposite way to the long-run trends, so the headline number is misleading.

Pearson r: +0.88
p-value: < 0.0001
Years compared (n): 61 (1965–2025)
95% confidence interval: 0.80 to 0.93
Correlation with the time trend removed: -0.91

Sources

Atmospheric CO₂ (Mauna Loa) (ppm): NOAA GML. Annual mean atmospheric carbon dioxide measured at Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii (NOAA GML).
US Nuclear Power Generation (TWh): Our World in Data. US Nuclear Power Generation (Our World in Data: Nuclear).

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.