The morphology (surface structure) of the copper component of an industrial Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 methanol synthesis catalyst has been studied by carbon monoxide temperature programmed desorption (CO TPD). The initial state morphology produced by hydrogen reduction at 513 K showed evidence of the existence of Cu(111), Cu(110) and Cu(211) surfaces. Surface oxidation of the copper by CO2 decomposition at 213 K followed by CO reduction at 473 K did not reproduce the initial state morphology, most of the Cu(110) surface being lost; at the same time there was a six-fold increase in the surface population of the (211) face. This new surface produced by CO2 decomposition at 213 K and CO reduction at 473 K was considerably less active in its ability to decompose CO2 at 213 K. Treatment of it with hydrogen at 513 K for 16 h caused the surface to reconstruct almost completely to its original state, with the Cu(110) face reappearing and the Cu(211) face being reduced in population to roughly its original value. The ability of the copper to decompose CO2 was proportionately restored. It is evident that in the synthesis of methanol using CO/CO2/H-2 mixtures over Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts, the morphology of the surface of the copper will be in a continuous state of restructuring, which, depending on the conditions, has the potential to result in chaotic behaviour.