Atmospheric CO₂ (Mauna Loa) vs Worldwide Major Earthquakes (M5+)

Atmospheric CO₂ (Mauna Loa) and Worldwide Major Earthquakes (M5+) correlate at r = +0.66 over 66 years (1960–2025), p < 0.0001. With the time trend removed, r = -0.51. Direction flips without the trend.

Verdict: Direction flips without the trend. The raw correlation is 0.66, but once each series' time trend is removed it becomes -0.51. The year-to-year movements run the opposite way to the long-run trends, so the headline number is misleading.

Pearson r: +0.66
p-value: < 0.0001
Years compared (n): 66 (1960–2025)
95% confidence interval: 0.50 to 0.78
Correlation with the time trend removed: -0.51

Sources

Atmospheric CO₂ (Mauna Loa) (ppm): NOAA GML. Annual mean atmospheric carbon dioxide measured at Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii (NOAA GML).
Worldwide Major Earthquakes (M5+) (earthquakes per year): USGS. Annual worldwide count of magnitude 5+ earthquakes (USGS ComCat).

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.