The attached charts represent compilation of data I gathered while doing some policy research recently. My goal was to obtain and present available data on:

• Fossil fuel production
• CO2 observations in the atmosphere
• CO2 observations from polar ice samples
• CO2 emissions
• Solar radiance observed
• Sunspot counts
• Global temperature anomalies from mean

The purpose of this review was to establish a baseline set of information which political policy discussions could refer to. I did not set out to compile these charts to prove or disprove a particular hypothesis nor to validate or invalidate a particular policy position.

Some data sets I was only able to locate for certain periods; the attached charts show a modern view from the mid 1950's to 2006, as well as an industrial age perspective from 1880 through to 2006. I also reviewed data spanning longer time periods but wanted to include in the charts data which covered similar spans of time. Links will be provided herein and in coming articles.

I examined and utilized data available from many sources and countries ranging from the leading per capita energy consumer, the United States and its Department of Energy CDIAC (Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center) to the UN IPCC (International Panel on Climate Change). Raw data is available by the bucket load, although in some cases (methane for example) the data is not nearly as plentiful as other data sets.

Click on image for full-size chart

I have a background in data analysis, primarily from a financial markets perspective. My experience has taught me the importance of recognizing trends; without introducing opinion into the discussion, it is possible to recognize the following:

1. CO2 in the earth's atmosphere is increasing in a well established upward trend

2. Fossil fuel production follows a similar trend

3. Fossil fuel production and CO2 observation trends do correlate with temperature anomaly increases observed over the past forty to fifty years.

4. Solar radiance and sunspot cycles do not strongly correlate with the increase in temperature anomalies. The U.S. NCDC further adds:

   With only 20 years of reliable measurements however, it is difficult to deduce a trend. But, from the short record we have so far, the trend in solar irradiance is estimated at ~0.09 W/m2 compared to 0.4 W/m2 from well-mixed greenhouse gases. (Source)

Data sources: The time series depicted in the charts is annual; some data sets were provided in finer resolutions (days or months) and in those cases I consolidated the available data into a simple annual average.

1. UN IPCC
2. U.S. CDIAC
3. U.S. NOAA NCDC (National Climatic Data Center)
4. U.S. NOAA NGDC Solar Irradiance Data
5. U.S. EPA Methane Information site
6. GreenHouse Gas Online: CO2, Methane, Nitrous Oxide 1000AD-Current