History of the Climate according to

GHG.

What is the greenhouse effect?

The greenhouse effect is like a blanket that traps heat around the Earth, thanks to special gases. These gases, like carbon dioxide and methane, help keep our planet at a temperature that’s suitable for life.

Without these gases, the Earth would be much colder. That’s why they’re called «greenhouse gases.» However, in recent years, human activities, like burning fossil fuels, have increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the air. This causes more heat to be trapped, leading to rising temperatures. This is a problem because it can affect the climate and life on the planet.

EVOLUTION PROCESS

PART I:

1712 – Thomas Newcomen, a British blacksmith, invents the first steam engine that is widely used. This helps kick off the Industrial Revolution and leads to large-scale coal use.

1824 – Joseph Fourier, a French physicist, describes how the Earth’s atmosphere acts like a blanket that helps keep heat in.

1861 – John Tyndall, an Irish physicist, discovers that water vapor and certain gases create the greenhouse effect. He says that water vapor is very important for plants, just like clothing is for humans. A climate research center in Britain is named after him.

1886 – Karl Benz introduces his Motorwagen, which many consider the first car.

1900 – Knut Angstrom, another Swede, discovers that carbon dioxide can trap heat, showing that even small amounts of gases can contribute to the greenhouse effect.

PART II

1938 – British engineer Guy Callendar looks at weather records from 147 places worldwide and finds that temperatures have risen over the last 100 years. He also sees that CO2 levels have increased and suggests it might be causing the warming. Many scientists don’t take his idea seriously.

French scientist Joseph Fourier described the natural greenhouse effect of the atmosphere in 1824.
  • 1988: A group called the IPCC is formed to study global warming and gather information.
  • 1989: Carbon emissions from factories and cars reach 6 billion tons a year.

1990: The IPCC, a group of scientists, says that Earth’s temperatures have gone up by 0.3 to 0.6 ºC in the last century. They warn that the greenhouse gases we produce are making the planet warmer.

1992: At a big meeting in Rio de Janeiro, world governments agree to a plan to reduce the gases that heat the Earth. Rich countries promise to lower their emissions to 1990 levels.

1995: The second IPCC report says there is evidence that human activities are changing the Earth’s climate. This is the first time it’s clearly stated that we are responsible for climate change.

1998: A weather phenomenon called El Niño combines with global warming, making 1998 the hottest year on record.

PART III: NOWDAYS

In July 2024, NASA measured that the level of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the air in the U.S. reached 426 parts per million (ppm), which is a record! This gas goes up and down with the seasons because plants absorb it to grow. However, due to human activities like burning fossil fuels and cutting down trees, there are fewer plants to help absorb CO2.

CO2 isn’t harmful in normal amounts since it traps heat from the sun, but too much of it causes global warming. If we don’t take action soon, our planet could get really damaged in just 50 years.

To help, we can recycle more, use electric energy instead of fuels, and bury waste instead of burning it. It’s important for everyone to act now, because the world we don’t take care of today will be the place where our children live tomorrow.

And that’s how, with Poti’s help, we learned about the importance of taking care of our planet.