Helen E. Brindley Created 2026-10-18 Updated 2026-11-05
An atmospheric researcher whose joint work with John E. Harries and colleagues used infrared spectra to investigate the greenhouse effect. Comparing radiation escaping to space at different wavelengths distinguishes the influence of atmospheric gases from a simple change in total emitted power.[ref]
Increases in greenhouse forcing inferred from the outgoing longwave radiation spectra of the Earth in 1970 and 1997 by John E. Harries and others. Abstract: spectral structure of outgoing radiation and the imprint of greenhouse gases
John E. Harries Created 2026-10-18 Updated 2026-11-05
An atmospheric physicist whose team compared satellite measurements of outgoing longwave radiation from 1970 and 1997. Differences in the infrared spectra carry the signatures of changing atmospheric absorbers. The comparison supplies observational evidence about the changing greenhouse effect, rather than relying only on a surface-temperature record.[ref]
Increases in greenhouse forcing inferred from the outgoing longwave radiation spectra of the Earth in 1970 and 1997 by John E. Harries and others. Abstract and satellite-spectrum comparison: changes in outgoing radiation between the two observation periods
Pretty J. Sagoo Created 2026-10-18 Updated 2026-11-05
A researcher whose team compared satellite infrared spectra separated by twenty-seven years. The study links changes in outgoing longwave radiation to the wavelength-dependent absorption by each greenhouse gas, making the atmosphere’s changing radiative behavior an observable spectral signal.[ref]
Increases in greenhouse forcing inferred from the outgoing longwave radiation spectra of the Earth in 1970 and 1997 by John E. Harries and others. Author list and abstract: 1970–1997 spectral comparison and greenhouse-gas interpretation
Richard J. Bantges Created 2026-10-18 Updated 2026-11-05
An atmospheric researcher whose joint 2001 study examined changes in Earth’s emitted infrared spectrum. The work uses the spectral signatures of atmospheric gases to investigate a changing greenhouse effect. It illustrates why retaining wavelength information can reveal physical processes hidden by a single broadband radiation measurement.[ref]
Increases in greenhouse forcing inferred from the outgoing longwave radiation spectra of the Earth in 1970 and 1997 by John E. Harries and others. Abstract and spectral comparison: outgoing longwave radiation as a diagnostic of atmospheric absorption
Satellite test of greenhouse spectral change 2026-10-18
A satellite test of greenhouse spectral change compares outgoing radiance with radiative transfer predictions. The 2001 study compared IRIS on Nimbus 4 (1970) and IMG on ADEOS (1997). Matching April–June ocean regions, masking land, screening clouds and correcting resolution and wavenumber controlled comparability. Spectral radiance became brightness temperature readouts. Regional comparisons and independent calculations tested interpretation. Carbon dioxide and methane features supported changed absorption; residual clouds, calibration and interannual variability limited background inference.[ref]
Increases in greenhouse forcing inferred from the outgoing longwave radiation spectra of the Earth in 1970 and 1997 by John E. Harries and others. Harries et al., 2001, pp. 355–357, Table 1, Fig. 1 and Methods
This observational comparison tests radiative transfer; it does not by itself measure equilibrium climate sensitivity or validate a complete climate model.
To understand the readout, write an instrument's spectral channel schematically asHere is spectral radiance in the viewing direction , is a normalized channel response, is calibration offset and is random error. Subtracting two channel readings isolates an atmospheric difference only after their response functions and sampling are comparable. Matching kernels reduces a false difference caused merely by observing a narrow spectral line at different resolutions; it cannot remove every calibration offset.
Outgoing longwave radiation in an energy budget also integrates radiance over upward directions and over the thermal spectrum, with the appropriate projected-angle factor. A brightness temperature converts one spectral radiance to the equivalent blackbody value through Planck's law; it is not automatically surface temperature. This explains why a spectral difference, a broadband radiative flux difference and surface warming are related observables with different units and different inferences.