Keeling Curve CO2 record turns to crowdsourced funding

Faced with a tumultuous funding landscape, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography has turned to crowdsourcing to maintain the Keeling Curve, according to a blog post from the director of its CO2 program. The curve has plotted changes to atmospheric carbon dioxide since 1958 and is one of the most well-known climate records.

The total annual operating cost for the Scripps Institution’s CO2 and O2 programs, which oversee the curve, is around $1 million. As of April 1, $20,858 has been raised through crowdsourcing, barely scratching the surface of that total. Still, every dollar counts and support for Scripps research commonly comes from various sources.

CO2 Program Director Ralph Keeling says the awareness raised by the funding push has amounted to more value than the dollars raised and is grateful to those contributing to the effort.