How Was The Greenhouse Effect Discovered By Fourier Using Infinite Series?

Joseph Fourier, a French mathematician and physicist, played a central role in the development of mathematical physics. He established the fundamental equation governing heat diffusion and solved it using the infinite series of trigonometric functions, which we now know as Fourier’s series. Fourier is generally credited with the discovery of the greenhouse effect, where the presence of an atmosphere acts to increase a temperature.

In the early nineteenth century, Fourier introduced the basic concepts of planetary energy budget and the greenhouse effect. He also studied heat transfer in a figure called A, which extended from that base in just one second. John Tyndall, an Irish physicist, used long-wave infrared radiation to measure, understand, and explain the greenhouse effect in terms of the absorption and radiation of heat by gases.

Fourier’s work on terrestrial temperatures has not received the attention it deserves from historians. In 1827, he wondered why Earth’s average temperature is approximately 15°C (59°F). He calculated that it would be much colder than it is if the incoming radiation from the sun were the only warming effect. The infinite sum of cosines in this equation was the very first use of Fourier series for any purpose.

Despite the common view that Fourier was not the first to compare the Earth’s atmosphere, his contributions to mathematical physics have had a significant impact on our understanding of the Earth’s atmosphere and its effects on global climate.

What is the main purpose of Fourier series?

Fourier series is a method used to describe periodic signals in terms of cosine and sine waves. It allows modeling any arbitrary periodic signal with a combination of sines and cosines. To solve a Fourier series, multiply the function by sine or cosine, integrate, estimate coefficients for different values, and then substitute them in the Fourier formula. There are two types of Fourier series: trigonometric and exponential.

Which scientist told the theory of greenhouse effect?

In 1859, Irish physicist John Tyndall discovered the absorption of heat by gases, a groundbreaking discovery that set the foundation for our modern understanding of climate change, meteorology, and weather. Tyndall’s apparatus, which he had set up at the Royal Institution in London, allowed him to detect the absorption of heat by gases, including carbon dioxide and water vapor. This discovery laid the groundwork for our modern understanding of the greenhouse effect and its impact on climate change.

What did Joseph Fourier think the Earth’s atmosphere was like?

Svante Arrhenius, in his famous essay on the impact of carbon dioxide on climate, compared Fourier’s 1827 article to a hot-house, stating that the atmosphere allows light rays of the Sun to pass through but retains dark rays from the ground. Access to content on Oxford Academic is typically provided through institutional subscriptions and purchases. Members of an active account can access content through IP-based access, which is provided across an institutional network to a range of IP addresses. Alternatively, users can sign in through their institution, using Shibboleth/Open Athens technology to provide single sign-on between their institution’s website and Oxford Academic.

What is the real life application of Fourier series?

The Fourier series is a fundamental technique used in signal processing to remove unwanted noise, known as noise reduction or noise cancellation. It is commonly used in active noise cancellation headphones to remove background noise from audio signals. The Fourier series can also be used in image compression algorithms to remove high-frequency components, reducing file size without significantly affecting the quality of the image. Moreover, the Fourier series is utilized in speech recognition to process and recognize speech patterns.

How did Fourier discover the Fourier series?

Fourier’s theory, which is based on Newton’s law of cooling, suggests that the flow of heat between molecules is proportional to their temperature difference. Furthermore, it posits that every wave-like signal can be represented by the addition of multiple waves.

What is the Fourier transform of Joseph Fourier?

The Fourier transform is a fundamental mathematical concept that describes the spread of Fourier transforms across the frequency domain, a principle that is particularly relevant in probability theory, statistics, and the study of normal distribution phenomena. The Gaussian function, introduced by Joseph Fourier, is a prime example of this principle. The Fourier transform can be formally defined as an improper Riemann integral, but this definition may not be suitable for applications requiring more sophisticated integration theory.

The Fourier transform can also be generalized to functions of several variables on Euclidean space, such as sending a function of 3-dimensional ‘position space’ to a function of 3-dimensional momentum or a function of space and time to a function of 4-momentum. This makes the spatial Fourier transform particularly useful in the study of waves and quantum mechanics.

Functions that can be generalized to Fourier methods are complex-valued and possibly vector-valued. Further generalization is possible to functions on groups, including the discrete-time Fourier transform (DTFT), the discrete Fourier transform (DFT), and the Fourier series or circular Fourier transform (FFT), which is used to handle periodic functions. The fast Fourier transform (FFT) is an algorithm for computing the DFT.

When did scientists first predict the greenhouse effect?

In 1896, the Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius posited that an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels could result in a notable alteration of surface temperature through the greenhouse effect.

What was discovered by Joseph Fourier in 1824?

The greenhouse effect, first identified by Joseph Fourier in 1824, is the process by which a planet’s surface and lower atmosphere are warmed due to the absorption of long-wavelength infrared radiation from the planet’s surface.

How did Joseph Fourier discover the greenhouse effect?

Fourier, the first to study Earth’s temperature mathematically, concluded that the planet was much warmer than simple analysis might suggest. He calculated that the Earth would be much colder if the sun’s radiation were the only warming effect. This idea, which later became known as the greenhouse effect, was first formulation by Swedish meteorologist Nils Gustaf Ekholm around 1900. The energy from the sun and the atmosphere is transparent, passing through and warming land and oceans. These gases, mainly water vapor and carbon dioxide, absorb this energy and re-emit it, partly upward and partly downward, to warm the surface.

Who discovered the greenhouse effect Fourier?

In 1827, French mathematician Joseph Fourier questioned Earth’s average temperature of 15°C (59°F) due to a balance between incoming and outgoing energy. He believed Earth should be colder, indicating a process similar to the greenhouse effect. A greenhouse’s glass enclosure allows visible light to enter and be absorbed by plants and soil, emitted as infrared radiation. The glass absorbs this radiation, emitting some back into the greenhouse, keeping it warm even when the outside temperature is lower.

The term “greenhouse effect” was coined to describe this process. However, the greenhouse effect’s warmth is primarily due to the physical barrier of the glass, which prevents warmer air from flowing outward. Despite similarities, the overall mechanisms driving the greenhouse effect are more complex and distinct.

How was the greenhouse effect discovered?

Eunice Newton Foote, a pioneer in 1856, demonstrated the greenhouse effect in her home laboratory by heating a glass cylinder full of carbon dioxide in sunlight. This led to the conclusion that more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere results in a warmer planet. Irish scientist John Tyndall later discovered the greenhouse gas effect, and his work is now widely recognized. Foote’s story was lost until an amateur historian discovered it. Supporting science journalism is crucial for ensuring the future of impactful stories about discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.