A Brief Review of Investigations into Earth’s Temperature Since the Year 1800

Russell Anthony Isaac

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.13

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A Brief Review of Investigations into Earth’s Temperature Since the Year 1800

Russell Anthony Isaac^*

Published in International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (Volume 12, Issue 4)

Received: 14 July 2024 Accepted: 12 August 2024 Published: 27 August 2024

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Abstract

For billions of years, natural processes alone, often working over millennia, drove Earth’s temperature and climate. For the last several centuries, human activities are a new driving force that is acting on a very short time scale. Knowing history helps chart necessary future actions with greater confidence. Since the end of the 17^th century, investigations relating to Earth’s temperature and its climate have evolved from only scientific interest to also include practical concerns triggered by global warming. The early studies were relatively episodic with gaps of a decade or more common until the mid 20^th century when they burgeoned starting with the International Geophysical Year. From the early to mid 1800s, to the early to mid 20^th century, the investigations were at the initiation of the individual researchers. Starting in the mid 1950s, the investigations became more extensive, comprehensive and interrelated. Early researchers inferred that the atmosphere played a role in Earth’s temperature, and as far back as the 1850s it was concluded that higher CO₂ concentrations in the atmosphere could result in warming Earth. Later investigations provided information on the mechanism which established that atmospheric CO₂ concentration and its absorption and re-emitting of infrared radiation was a major factor in Earth’s temperature. Further, its increasing atmospheric concentration is a major driver of a warming globe at a rate far surpassing those detected in the geologic record. This paper traces the history of those researches based on the premise that knowing how we arrived at our current knowledge helps in supporting future research and actions to address the consequences of Earth’s warming.

Published in	International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (Volume 12, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.13
Page(s)	88-97
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Earth’s Temperature, Early Climate Studies, Summary of Early Climate Studies, Foundational Studies of Earth’s Temperature

References

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Isaac, R. A. (2024). A Brief Review of Investigations into Earth’s Temperature Since the Year 1800. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 12(4), 88-97. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.13

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Isaac, R. A. A Brief Review of Investigations into Earth’s Temperature Since the Year 1800. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 2024, 12(4), 88-97. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.13

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Isaac RA. A Brief Review of Investigations into Earth’s Temperature Since the Year 1800. Int J Environ Monit Anal. 2024;12(4):88-97. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.13,
  author = {Russell Anthony Isaac},
  title = {A Brief Review of Investigations into Earth’s Temperature Since the Year 1800
},
  journal = {International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis},
  volume = {12},
  number = {4},
  pages = {88-97},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijema.20241204.13},
  abstract = {For billions of years, natural processes alone, often working over millennia, drove Earth’s temperature and climate. For the last several centuries, human activities are a new driving force that is acting on a very short time scale. Knowing history helps chart necessary future actions with greater confidence. Since the end of the 17th century, investigations relating to Earth’s temperature and its climate have evolved from only scientific interest to also include practical concerns triggered by global warming. The early studies were relatively episodic with gaps of a decade or more common until the mid 20th century when they burgeoned starting with the International Geophysical Year. From the early to mid 1800s, to the early to mid 20th century, the investigations were at the initiation of the individual researchers. Starting in the mid 1950s, the investigations became more extensive, comprehensive and interrelated. Early researchers inferred that the atmosphere played a role in Earth’s temperature, and as far back as the 1850s it was concluded that higher CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere could result in warming Earth. Later investigations provided information on the mechanism which established that atmospheric CO2 concentration and its absorption and re-emitting of infrared radiation was a major factor in Earth’s temperature. Further, its increasing atmospheric concentration is a major driver of a warming globe at a rate far surpassing those detected in the geologic record. This paper traces the history of those researches based on the premise that knowing how we arrived at our current knowledge helps in supporting future research and actions to address the consequences of Earth’s warming.
},
 year = {2024}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - A Brief Review of Investigations into Earth’s Temperature Since the Year 1800

AU  - Russell Anthony Isaac
Y1  - 2024/08/27
PY  - 2024
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.13
T2  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JF  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JO  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
SP  - 88
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PB  - Science Publishing Group
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AB  - For billions of years, natural processes alone, often working over millennia, drove Earth’s temperature and climate. For the last several centuries, human activities are a new driving force that is acting on a very short time scale. Knowing history helps chart necessary future actions with greater confidence. Since the end of the 17th century, investigations relating to Earth’s temperature and its climate have evolved from only scientific interest to also include practical concerns triggered by global warming. The early studies were relatively episodic with gaps of a decade or more common until the mid 20th century when they burgeoned starting with the International Geophysical Year. From the early to mid 1800s, to the early to mid 20th century, the investigations were at the initiation of the individual researchers. Starting in the mid 1950s, the investigations became more extensive, comprehensive and interrelated. Early researchers inferred that the atmosphere played a role in Earth’s temperature, and as far back as the 1850s it was concluded that higher CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere could result in warming Earth. Later investigations provided information on the mechanism which established that atmospheric CO2 concentration and its absorption and re-emitting of infrared radiation was a major factor in Earth’s temperature. Further, its increasing atmospheric concentration is a major driver of a warming globe at a rate far surpassing those detected in the geologic record. This paper traces the history of those researches based on the premise that knowing how we arrived at our current knowledge helps in supporting future research and actions to address the consequences of Earth’s warming.

VL  - 12
IS  - 4
ER  -

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Author Information

Russell Anthony Isaac

Formerly with the Ground Water Quality Bureau, New Mexico Environment Department, Santa Fe, The United States

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2199-1061

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Isaac, R. A. (2024). A Brief Review of Investigations into Earth’s Temperature Since the Year 1800. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 12(4), 88-97. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.13

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ACS Style

Isaac, R. A. A Brief Review of Investigations into Earth’s Temperature Since the Year 1800. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 2024, 12(4), 88-97. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.13

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AMA Style

Isaac RA. A Brief Review of Investigations into Earth’s Temperature Since the Year 1800. Int J Environ Monit Anal. 2024;12(4):88-97. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.13

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.13,
  author = {Russell Anthony Isaac},
  title = {A Brief Review of Investigations into Earth’s Temperature Since the Year 1800
},
  journal = {International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis},
  volume = {12},
  number = {4},
  pages = {88-97},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijema.20241204.13},
  abstract = {For billions of years, natural processes alone, often working over millennia, drove Earth’s temperature and climate. For the last several centuries, human activities are a new driving force that is acting on a very short time scale. Knowing history helps chart necessary future actions with greater confidence. Since the end of the 17th century, investigations relating to Earth’s temperature and its climate have evolved from only scientific interest to also include practical concerns triggered by global warming. The early studies were relatively episodic with gaps of a decade or more common until the mid 20th century when they burgeoned starting with the International Geophysical Year. From the early to mid 1800s, to the early to mid 20th century, the investigations were at the initiation of the individual researchers. Starting in the mid 1950s, the investigations became more extensive, comprehensive and interrelated. Early researchers inferred that the atmosphere played a role in Earth’s temperature, and as far back as the 1850s it was concluded that higher CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere could result in warming Earth. Later investigations provided information on the mechanism which established that atmospheric CO2 concentration and its absorption and re-emitting of infrared radiation was a major factor in Earth’s temperature. Further, its increasing atmospheric concentration is a major driver of a warming globe at a rate far surpassing those detected in the geologic record. This paper traces the history of those researches based on the premise that knowing how we arrived at our current knowledge helps in supporting future research and actions to address the consequences of Earth’s warming.
},
 year = {2024}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - A Brief Review of Investigations into Earth’s Temperature Since the Year 1800

AU  - Russell Anthony Isaac
Y1  - 2024/08/27
PY  - 2024
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.13
T2  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JF  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JO  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
SP  - 88
EP  - 97
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7667
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.13
AB  - For billions of years, natural processes alone, often working over millennia, drove Earth’s temperature and climate. For the last several centuries, human activities are a new driving force that is acting on a very short time scale. Knowing history helps chart necessary future actions with greater confidence. Since the end of the 17th century, investigations relating to Earth’s temperature and its climate have evolved from only scientific interest to also include practical concerns triggered by global warming. The early studies were relatively episodic with gaps of a decade or more common until the mid 20th century when they burgeoned starting with the International Geophysical Year. From the early to mid 1800s, to the early to mid 20th century, the investigations were at the initiation of the individual researchers. Starting in the mid 1950s, the investigations became more extensive, comprehensive and interrelated. Early researchers inferred that the atmosphere played a role in Earth’s temperature, and as far back as the 1850s it was concluded that higher CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere could result in warming Earth. Later investigations provided information on the mechanism which established that atmospheric CO2 concentration and its absorption and re-emitting of infrared radiation was a major factor in Earth’s temperature. Further, its increasing atmospheric concentration is a major driver of a warming globe at a rate far surpassing those detected in the geologic record. This paper traces the history of those researches based on the premise that knowing how we arrived at our current knowledge helps in supporting future research and actions to address the consequences of Earth’s warming.

VL  - 12
IS  - 4
ER  -

Copy | Download