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Keeling, Charles D.

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Keeling, Charles D.

Published: August 21, 2008, 1:32 pm
Updated: August 21, 2008, 1:32 pm
Lead Author: Alejandra Roman
Contributing Author: Cutler Cleveland
Topics: Climate Change Environmental Monitoring
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This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editors: Alan Sweedler, Sidney Draggan
Charles D. Keeling Charles D. Keeling
The Keeling Curve, from recordings at Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii. The Keeling Curve, from recordings at Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii.

Charles D. Keeling (1928-2005), an American pioneer in the monitoring of carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere. Widely recognized as the "Keeling curve", the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration measurements, taken since 1958 at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, constitute the longest, continuous record of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration recordings available in the world. These measurements are recognized as a reliable indicator of the regional trend in the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide in the middle layers of the troposphere.

The Mauna Loa record shows a continuous increase in the annual concentration of carbon dioxide, an important greenhouse gas, and is thus one indication of human contribution to global climate change. Each year, the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration varies between a high value in winter (because of biospheric respiration) and a low value in summer (because of drawdown by photosynthesis); as a result, a wave-like pattern is superimposed on the year-to-year increasing trend.

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Citation

Alejandra Roman (Lead Author);Cutler Cleveland (Contributing Author);Alan Sweedler, Sidney Draggan (Topic Editor) "Keeling, Charles D.". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth August 21, 2008; Last revised Date August 21, 2008; Retrieved February 10, 2012 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Keeling,_Charles_D.>

The Author

Alejandra Roman Editorial Assistant The Encyclopedia of Earth   Alejandra Roman graduated in May 2006 from Boston University with a double B.A. in Environmental Policy and Analysis and Hispanic Language and Literature. While studying, she worked as a research assistant for Cutler Cleveland at Boston University's Center for Energy and Environmental Studies, mainly assisting in the development of the Earth Portal and Encyclopedia of Earth. After graduation, she moved to Washingto ... (Full Bio)

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