In March 1958 the geochemist Charles David Keeling began continuous measurements of carbon dioxide in the air at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, high above local pollution. The first monthly average was 315.7 parts per million. The record, continued today by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, revealed both the seasonal 'breathing' of plant life and the steady rise of CO2 caused by human activity, and became the best-known graph in climate science. It took place in March 1958.
Before and after
- 23 January 1958Establishment of Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
- 26 January 1958Birth of Ellen DeGeneres
- 1 February 1958Launch of Explorer 1
- 6 February 1958Munich air disaster
- March 1958Start of the Keeling curve at Mauna Loa
- 2 March 1958Construction of Beijing Capital International Airport
- 2 March 1958The Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition completes the crossing
- 14 March 1958Birth of Albert II, Prince of Monaco
- 17 March 1958Launch of Vanguard 1
More in Earth & climate
- 6 December 1947Establishment of Everglades National Park
- 8 April 1949Establishment of Plitvice Lakes National Park
- 1980Establishment of Komodo National Park
- 20032003 European heat wave
- from 3 November 2013 to 11 November 2013Typhoon Haiyan
- 8 September 20232023 Marrakesh-Safi earthquake
The era
This moment belongs to the Contemporary world (1945 CE to today), the world since 1945. You can also browse everything in the 20th century.