is it true that the CO2 measured in the air follows the rise in temp?

Yes, it is discussed in these educational sites.

http://www.weatherquestions.com/Roy-Spencer-on-glo...

http://www.indiana.edu/~geol105/

http://www.geocraft.com/WVFossils/ice_ages.html#an...

CO2 cannot be correlated to temperature on large time scales. (1)

On smaller time scales, when CO2 levels do happen to correlate to temperature, the CO2 does follow the temperature rise. (2)

If warming were caused by CO2 it would be expected that the temperature rise would follow the rise in CO2 but since what we observe in real life is the opposite, a different process must be taking place.

One popular hypothesis is that this lag is probably due to the fact that a warmer ocean releases more dissolved carbon dioxide.

The short answer is yes it lags, but not by a long time. About 5/6 of the warming time is associated with higher CO2 levels.

Temperatures start to rise, which causes CO2 to rise by warming the oceans. This associated rise in CO2 causes more warming (along with other feedbacks, such as water vapor and methane). This warming then causes more CO2 to be released, etc.

Historically there were not SUV's to release massive amounts of CO2 into the air, so basically the Earth is going through something it has never experienced before.

Co2 isn't even a greenhouse gas. It's never been proven scientifically (only religiously) to increase temperature. It's physically impossible for Co2 to contain anymore heat than it starts with. Simple Chem.

There are many examples where Co2 levels have been higher then now, yet the temperature was colder (see Global Cooling, in the 70's).

CO2 lags temperature change in spite of Benjamin's denial. There is roughly an 800 year lag. Of course there will be times when changes occur and it appears that the CO2 is driving the change. It is not. Temperature is certainly driving the CO2 concentration probably because it outgasses from the ocean and the ocean is big and takes a long time to change temperature. When the ocean warms, it gives off CO2. When it cools, it absorbs it.

Edit: What I wrote ins't even controversial except to a complete head stuck in the sand alarmist

No as a matter of fact looking at ice core samples reveals that the CO2 levels have been much higher in the past and the temperatures were much cooler at that time.

Sometimes CO2 lags, and sometimes it leads temperature change.

Edit: Jim z, Your smear doesn’t really make sense. The oceans are currently warming and absorbing more CO2 than they are outgassing. The 35% increase in atmospheric CO2 clearly is the fault of mankind[1], and global temperatures are responding to this.

co2 is not relevant.

lol CO2 is carbon dioxide... People breathe out carbon dioxide... don't be foolish...