Where Did The Phrase “Greenhouse Effect” Originate?

The greenhouse effect is a phenomenon that occurs when certain gases, such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and other gases, accumulate in Earth’s atmosphere. These gases, which are naturally present in the atmosphere, absorb infrared radiation (net heat energy) emitted from Earth’s surface and reradiate it back to Earth’s surface, contributing to global warming. The term “greenhouse effect” was first used in 1901 by Swedish meteorologist Nils Ekholm, who was close to Svante Arrhenius.

The greenhouse effect occurs because the sun bombards Earth with large amounts of radiation in the form of visible light. Greenhouse gases, which absorb infrared radiation, are responsible for retaining heat near Earth’s surface. As the heat moves through the atmosphere and back out to space, greenhouse gases intensify the greenhouse effect, increasing Earth’s average air temperatures.

The term “greenhouse effect” comes from an analogy to greenhouses, which work by retaining heat from sunlight by blocking convection. The exchange of incoming and outgoing radiation that warms the planet works in a similar way. The term “greenhouse effect” originated in 1827 and was coined by French scientist and mathematician Jean-Baptiste Fourier.

Greenhouse gases are gases that can trap heat, derived from the concept of greenhouses, which are full of windows that let in sunlight. The term “greenhouse effect” was first used formally in 1901 by Swedish meteorologist Nils Ekholm.

Why do they call it greenhouse?

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a greenhouse gas that absorbs long-wavelength infrared energy from the Earth’s surface, keeping the atmosphere warm. It is similar to a greenhouse, allowing visible light from the Sun to pass through but absorbing it. The warm interior of a greenhouse is a metaphor for how gases in the atmosphere maintain Earth’s surface temperature, as there are no panes of glass in the atmosphere.

How did the term greenhouse effect originate?

The greenhouse effect, a term coined by French mathematician Joseph Fourier in 1824, is attributed to the fact that Earth’s atmosphere functions similarly to a “hotbox” developed by Swiss physicist Horace Bénédict de Saussure. However, Fourier did not use the term or credit atmospheric gases with keeping Earth warm. Swedish physicist and physical chemist Svante Arrhenius is credited with the origins of the term in 1896, with the publication of the first plausible climate model explaining how gases trap heat in Earth’s atmosphere.

The greenhouse effect occurs when sunlight heats Earth’s surface, causing it to radiate infrared radiation back toward space. This radiation, unlike visible light, is absorbed by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, raising its temperature. The heated atmosphere then radiates infrared radiation back towards Earth’s surface. Without the greenhouse effect, Earth’s average surface temperature would be around -18°C (0°F). On Venus, the high concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere causes an extreme greenhouse effect, resulting in surface temperatures as high as 450°C (840°F).

How did the greenhouse effect get its name?

The greenhouse effect on Earth involves the trapping of heat by greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide. These gases, like the glass roof of a greenhouse, trap heat during the day and release it at night. The Earth’s atmosphere traps some of the Sun’s heat, preventing it from escaping back into space at night. This keeps Earth at an average temperature of 58 degrees Fahrenheit (14 degrees Celsius).

Why is the term greenhouse effect technically inaccurate?

The term “Greenhouse Effect” is a metaphor for the process of keeping a planet warm by preventing warm air from escaping, while the atmosphere keeps the planet warm by preventing certain wavelengths of infra-red radiation from escaping. The greenhouse effect is the result of many layers of air absorbing infra-red from the layer below and re-emitting it both up and down. The rate at which the planet loses heat is determined by the average temperature of the topmost layer of air, where this infra-red finally escapes to space.

The origin of the term “Greenhouse Effect” is often attributed to 19th-century French mathematician Joseph Fourier, who is usually credited with the idea in the 1820s. However, it is important to note that Fourier never used the term and most authors citing the effect cite only secondary sources without reading his work. He mentions greenhouses in his 1822 classic “Analytical Theory of Heat” but does not mention it in connection with planetary temperatures.

Why is the term greenhouse effect misleading?

Greenhouse gases, such as CO2, methane, and water vapor, trap heat in the atmosphere through the “greenhouse effect”. These gases absorb light, preventing some of it from escaping Earth, which heats up the atmosphere and raises the planet’s average temperature. The process begins with a single carbon dioxide (CO2) molecule, which comes from exhaust from a car. As it diffuses into the atmosphere, it is impacted by photons, which are particles of light that hit the molecule. This process helps to regulate the temperature of the Earth and prevents the transfer of heat from warm air to colder air.

Why is the greenhouse effect a misnomer?

The greenhouse effect is a misnomer, as greenhouse gases do not warm Earth in the same way as the Sun does. The Earth is surrounded by the vacuum of space, and the physics for this is well understood. Incoming and outgoing radiation are always nearly in balance, preventing Earth from cooling or warming. To determine Earth’s temperature, Stefan’s law of 1884 can be used, which tells you how many watts of energy are incoming or outgoing. The equation is J = εσT 4, with epsilon as a measure of blackness and sigma as Stefan’s constant.

The Earth’s mean temperature is 15 degrees centigrade, which is 5 degrees centigrade. However, there is a disparity in the equation, partly due to the “greenhouse effect”, as epsilon is different for incoming radiation compared to outgoing radiation. Greenhouse gases are beneficial because they would make Earth an ice planet without them.

Who first described the greenhouse effect?

Today’s Google doodle focuses on Eunice Newton Foote, who discovered the greenhouse effect and played a significant role in women’s rights movements. Foote’s work, which is often attributed to physicist John Tyndall, involved experiments on how heat affected air. In 2011, amateur historian Raymond Sorenson discovered a record of Foote’s work at the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1856, which is the first record of a physics article by a female scientist. Foote concluded that the highest effect of the sun’s rays was found in carbonic acid gas, primarily carbon dioxide, and speculated that an atmosphere of that gas would give Earth a high temperature.

Who invented greenhouse effect?

John Tyndall, an Irish scientist, discovered the greenhouse gas effect through a complex experiment. Today, Tyndall is widely recognized as the inventor of this phenomenon. A crater on the moon is named after him. Newton Foote, a lost scientist, was discovered by an amateur historian. Supporting science journalism is crucial for the future of impactful stories about discoveries and ideas shaping our world. Subscribing to Lost Women of Science helps ensure the future of these stories.

How do greenhouse gases get their name?

Greenhouse gases, which derive their name from the resemblance to greenhouses with windows that allow sunlight in, have the effect of trapping heat and creating warmth.

What is the origin of the word greenhouse?

The term “greenhouse” was first used in the mid-1600s, with its earliest evidence found in John Evelyn’s writings in 1664. It is derived from a compound in the English language.