Mauna Loa shows CO2 levels follow temperature not the other way around.
Googling around historic CO2 levels I came across references to this paper, which even with my JSTOR login I can't access (if anyone can send me a copy I would be most grateful).
Dip in the atmospheric CO2 level during the mid-1960's
Authors: Bacastow, R.
Publication: (International Association of Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics, Symposium on the Carbon Dioxide Cycle, Seattle, Wash., Aug. 31, 1977.) Journal of Geophysical Research, vol. 84, June 20, 1979, p. 3108-3114. NSF-supported research. (JGR Homepage)
Publication Date: 06/1979
Bibliographic Code:
1979JGR....84.3108B
Abstract
Removal of the southern oscillation effect from the CO2 records at Mauna Loa, Hawaii, and the South Pole reveals corresponding decreases following the Agung eruption (Bali) in 1963. The period of the decreases roughly corresponds to the period of reduced solar transmittance, as measured at Mauna Loa. It is suggested that the decrease in CO2 level is due to reduced sea surface temperatures, for which there is some direct evidence. The temperature anomaly required to produce the CO2 level dip is calculated on the basis of several simple models and found to be close to that observed.
So he is saying the CO2 levels at Mauna Loa dipped in 1963-1964ish - but what does the famous graph show:
No much sign of a dip there: but DIALOG/DISCCRS Newsletter tells us that there should be "A small gap in the carbon dioxide data from February through April 1964" because Dr Keeling ran out of funds. So the data for the months we are interested in is missing! And some graphs do show this:
So lessons for today:
1) There was a drop in CO2 levels in 1963/1964 that was officially probably CAUSED by temperatures dropping because of a "period of reduced solar transmittance".
2) Any graph of CO2 level rises from Mauna Loa should have a gap in 1964 - if it doesn't it is lazy science.
3) The entire CO2 record rests on the shoulders of one man in one location.