Global atmospheric CO2 distribution and variations from 1968–1982 NOAA/GMCC CO2 flask sample data

CO 2 data obtained from discrete sampling during 1968–1982 at 23 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Geophysical Monitoring for Climatic Change and foreign cooperative stations are presented, together with a description of the measurement program and data quality. Monthly, seasonal, and annual CO 2 concentrations are determined by the individual stations from select (background) data. Temporal and spatial global CO 2 distributions yield annual and seasonal latitudinal gradients, abundances, airborne fractions, annual cycle amplitudes and phases, annual cycle amplitude growth rates, and global growth rate variations of CO 2 . The time‐series data sets reveal variations related to several El Niño/Southern Oscillation events, particularly with respect to the strength of the CO 2 source in the equatorial Pacific Ocean and global CO 2 growth rates. CO 2 growth rate anomalies correlate highly with the Southern Oscillation Index, which is related to the strength of the easterly trade winds that blow along the equator.