The Greenhouse Effect

The greenhouse effect refers to the process by which certain atmospheric gases trap heat from the sun, warming Earth's surface. Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius first theorized in 1896 that carbon dioxide could influence global temperatures through this mechanism, publishing his findings in the journal Philosophical Magazine.

How It Works

• Solar radiation enters Earth's atmosphere
• The surface absorbs this energy and radiates heat back toward space
• Greenhouse gases—primarily carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor—absorb and re-radiate this heat
• Heat accumulates in the lower atmosphere, warming the planet

This natural process maintains Earth's average temperature at approximately 59°F (15°C). Without it, the planet would be uninhabitable. However, increased concentrations of greenhouse gases intensify the effect.

Modern Understanding

In 1988, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was established by the United Nations at Geneva, Switzerland, to assess climate science. Current atmospheric CO₂ levels exceed 420 parts per million, the highest in over 800,000 years. British scientist Guy Stewart Callendar (1898-1964) revived Arrhenius's theory in 1938, demonstrating that industrial emissions were measurably raising global temperatures.

Understanding the greenhouse effect remains central to climate science and informs international climate agreements like the Paris Agreement (2015), signed by nations worldwide to limit planetary warming.

Reference:

Wikipedia reference

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_Effect