While working on his science project, my son went looking
for the oldest statement of the theory or radiative forcing,
the core of the global warming hypothesis. Below, is what
he found.
-.-. --.- Roger
PS.
"obscure rays" = Infrared
"carbonic acid" = CO2
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Tyndall, John,
"On the Absorption and Radiation of Heat by Gases and Vapours,
and on the Physical Connexion of Radiation, Absorption, and
Conduction," Philosophical Transactions, 1861, pp. 28
"But this aqueous vapour, which exercises such a destructive
action on the obscure rays, is comparatively transparent to the rays of
light. Hence the differential action, as regards the heat coming from
the sun to the earth, and that radiated from the earth into space, is
vastly augmented by the aqueous vapor of the atmosphere."
"De Saussure, Fourier, M. Poulliet, and Mr. Hopkins regard this
interception of the terrestrial rays as exercising the most important
influence on climate. Now if, as the above experiments indicate, the
chief influence be exercised by the aqueous vapour, every variation of
this constituent must produce a change of climate. Similar remarks
would apply to the carbonic acid diffused through the air; while an
almost inappreciable admixture of any of the hydrocarbon vapours would
produce corresponding changes of climate. It is not therefore
necessary to assume alterations in the density and height of the
atmosphere, to account for different amounts of heat being preserved to
the earth at different times; a slight change in its variable
constituents would suffice for this. Such changes in fact may have
produced all the mutations of climate which the researches of
geologists reveal. However this may be, the facts above cited remain;
they constitute true causes, the extent alone of the operation
remaining doubtful."
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