Charles Keeling & Measuring Atmospheric CO₂

by John Leaf (with contributions from Douglas Allchin)

The Keeling Curve is now an icon of climate science. This case study considers the origin and development of this famous graph, illustrating how "science-in-the-making" looks very different than it does in retrospect. It follows Keeling from his introduction to measuring carbon dioxide in a strictly geological context through successive stages as the relevant context shifts. The episode also highlights the uncertainty of funding, with five major crises over three decades.

NOS features include:

• the role of long-term data
• funding science
• role of measurement (accuracy, precision, calibration of instruments)
• cultural and political contexts of science
• the role of collaboration
• science as a career/human dimension of science