How Greenhouse Effect was Discovered?

A number of scientists including Fourier, Arrhenius and Callendar contributed towards the discovery of greenhouse effect and the science of global warming.

While global warming and greenhouse effect are being regarded as the biggest environmental threats to current and future generations, it was not until the 19th century that the linkage between greenhouse effect and atmospheric temperature rise was disclosed. Joseph Fourier, Svante Arrhenius, and G. S. Callendar are the leading scientists credited with the advancement of the science of global warming through their research and proactive pursuits towards the subject.

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Joseph Fourier and Earth’s Energy Balance

Jean-Baptiste-Joseph Fourier (1768-1830) was a French physicist and mathematician, who paved the way towards the understanding of greenhouse effect. In 1824, he postulated that the gases such as CO2 present in the atmosphere could increase the surface temperature of the earth. He discovered that the Earth was able to maintain its energy balance by transferring the heat obtained from within itself through conduction or convection.

Fourier concluded that the energy obtained from outside sources such as the Sun, causes the Earth to heat up. The Earth radiates this heat energy in the form of longer wavelength, and less energetic, infrared radiation. Consequently, some part of the energy absorbed from the Sun is trapped by CO2 in Earth’s atmosphere, thereby rising its temperature. Fourier calculated that the amount of this infrared radiation increases in proportion to the temperature of the Earth.

Arrhenius and the Science of Global Warming

While Svante Arrhenius (1859-1927), a Swedish Chemist, was trying to explain a theory about ice ages, he speculated that the changing levels of CO2 in the atmosphere could contribute to changes in Earth’s climate through greenhouse effect. In fact, he was the first person to identify that human-induced emission of CO2 from fossil fuels combustion, would lead to global warming and would prevent the world from entering another ice age.

Arrhenius also predicted that if the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere doubles, the global temperature would rise by 5-6 C° ; and it would take 3000 years for the world to reach this situation. However, a 2007 report by IPCC ( Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) has suggested that doubling the CO2 concentration would rise the global temperature by 2- 4.5 C° , and it would take only 100 years to reach this level.

Discovery of Callendar Effect

Guy Stewart Callendar, (1898-1964) was an engineer, inventor and amateur meteorologist. He compiled a dataset of global temperatures and analyzed it to conclude the cause and effect relationship between the melting of glaciers and rising levels of CO2 concentrations. Callendar discovered that the rise in global temperatures after the Industrial Revolution was primarily caused by increased combustion of fossil fuels and the resulting increase in atmospheric CO2. This phenomenon is known as "Callendar Effect".

Discovery of Global Warming

As a matter of fact, greenhouse effect was discovered as a result of the research on the connection between concentration of CO2 and glacial periods in the Earth’s past climate. The invaluable contribution of scientists has allowed for the advancements seen today in the understanding of global warming and the effects it has had in the past, is having now, and will have in the future on the environment.

Source:

Casper, Julie Kerr, Greenhouse Gases: Worldwide Impacts, Facts on File, Inc.