The scientists investigated the phase relation (leads/lags) between atmospheric carbon dioxide and global temperaturesusing standard data series for the period January 1980 to December 2011.They found that changes in global atmospheric CO2 follow 11-12 months behind changes in global sea surface temperature and 9.5-10 months behind changes in global air surface temperature. The findings conflict with the consensus view concerning the greenhouse gas theory that says the opposite should happen with temperatures supposedly being driven by any rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2 levels are up 40 percent in recent decades).