It is a popularly held belief that global warming was only discovered in recent times, within the past decade or two. In reality, the science of global warming dates back to a much earlier period, when many of the mechanisms causing climate change were first identified. Though the debate surrounding global warming has become more urgent and pressing than ever before, the concept of a warming world and its relationship with human activity is nothing new.
It is commonly agreed that the phenomenon of global warming first emerged in the late 19th century through the work of scientists such as John Tyndall and Svante Arrhenius. In particular, Arrhenius’ paper “On the Influence of Carbonic Acid in the Air upon the Temperature of the Ground” published in 1896 marked a turning point for the discipline and set in motion decades of research into the science of climate change. While much of the initial debate focused on whether human activity was playing a role in the warming of the planet, it was soon accepted that human-induced climate change was a reality and a cause for concern.
By the mid-20th century, scientists began to realize that human activity had the power to greatly accelerate climate warming. In his groundbreaking 1979 book “Climate Change: Carbon Dioxide and the Greenhouse Effect”, the atmospheric scientist Wallace Broecker described how increasing levels of CO2 were having a profound impact on global temperatures. His work was vital in establishing the concept of anthropogenic global warming and paving the way for the establishment of comprehensive policies to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Today, the issue of global warming is widely discussed and debated across the world. With more sophisticated knowledge, technology and data sources, scientific opinion on the subject is now more unified than ever before. As the scientific community continues to make advances in understanding the climate system, policy makers are rolling out large scale initiatives to reduce global emissions and protect the planet from further warming.
Despite the collective effort to curb global temperatures from rising, progress has been slow and many challenges still remain. Further research is necessary to identify the most successful and practical measures for achieving effective action on climate change. In addition, society as a whole needs to recognize the importance of embracing a sustainable lifestyle in order to protect the planet. By coming together to tackle these issues collectively, we can ensure a future where the world can begin to recover from years of neglect and protect the planet for generations to come.
What Year Was Global Warming Discovered
