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Atmospheric CO₂ (Mauna Loa) vs US College Enrollment
Atmospheric CO₂ (Mauna Loa) and US College Enrollment correlate at r = +0.91 over 39 years (1971–2022), p < 0.0001. With the time trend removed, r = -0.76. Direction flips without the trend.
Verdict: Direction flips without the trend. The raw correlation is 0.91, but once each series' time trend is removed it becomes -0.76. The year-to-year movements run the opposite way to the long-run trends, so the headline number is misleading.
- Pearson r
- +0.91
- p-value
- < 0.0001
- Years compared (n)
- 39 (1971–2022)
- 95% confidence interval
- 0.83 to 0.95
- Correlation with the time trend removed
- -0.76
Sources
- Atmospheric CO₂ (Mauna Loa) (ppm): NOAA GML. Annual mean atmospheric carbon dioxide measured at Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii (NOAA GML).
- US College Enrollment (% gross): World Bank. US College Enrollment (World Bank indicator SE.TER.ENRR).
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.