Question

In 1957, Dr. Roger Revelle wrote that mankind is inadvertently conducting a great geo-chemical experiment by releasing vast amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This was the first formal warning about what effect?

Answer 1

Dr. Roger Revelle's 1957 warning pertained to the rise of global climate change due to increased carbon dioxide emissions from human activity, known as the greenhouse effect. Since the Industrial Revolution, CO₂ levels have significantly risen, leading to complex climate changes that pose severe risks to the planet and its inhabitants.

Step-by-step explanation:

In 1957, Dr. Roger Revelle's warning referred to the potential changes in global climate due to the release of vast amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as a result of human activities like burning fossil fuels. This was a formal acknowledgment of what would come to be known as the greenhouse effect and its implications for global warming and climate change.

Since the Industrial Revolution, CO₂ levels have risen from 280 parts per million (ppm) to over 400 ppm, and if this trend continues, it could lead to catastrophic effects such as sea level rise, increased storm surges, and negative impacts on oceanic pH levels affecting marine life.