Keeling, Charles David -

American geochemist. Originator of the famous "Keeling Curve" which depicts the inexorable rise of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere since 1957, with its annual variations superimposed on the accelerating trend of increase. After receiving his Ph.D. at Northwestern University, Keeling came to Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego in 1956 to begin the carbon dioxide monitoring program that he has led to this day.