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Atmospheric Methane (global) vs US Population
Atmospheric Methane (global) and US Population correlate at r = +0.96 over 42 years (1984–2025), p < 0.0001. With the time trend removed, r = -0.64. Direction flips without the trend.
Verdict: Direction flips without the trend. The raw correlation is 0.96, but once each series' time trend is removed it becomes -0.64. The year-to-year movements run the opposite way to the long-run trends, so the headline number is misleading.
- Pearson r
- +0.96
- p-value
- < 0.0001
- Years compared (n)
- 42 (1984–2025)
- 95% confidence interval
- 0.92 to 0.98
- Correlation with the time trend removed
- -0.64
Sources
- Atmospheric Methane (global) (ppb): NOAA GML. Global annual mean atmospheric methane from marine surface sites (NOAA GML).
- US Population (people): World Bank. US Population (World Bank indicator SP.POP.TOTL).
Related pairs
- US Adult Obesity vs US Population (r = +1.00)
- Atmospheric CO₂ (Mauna Loa) vs US Population (r = +0.99)
- US Resident Patent Applications vs US Population (r = +0.98)
- US Median Age vs US Population (r = +0.98)
- Atmospheric Methane (global) vs US Natural Gas Consumption (r = +0.98)
- Atmospheric Methane (global) vs US GDP per Capita (r = +0.98)
Correlation does not imply causation. How the verdict is worked out.