Tyndall: Climate change visionary

John Tyndall is the man who figured out why the sky is blue, yet he remains a relatively unknown figure, writes Frank McGovern

READERS with long memories may recall a quirky radio advertisement which, why is the sky blue? It then informed the listener that it was John Tyndall, from Co Carlow, who answered this question back in the 19th century.

Figuring out why the sky is blue and therefore why Earth is the unique and special blue planet of the solar system — observed a just century later from space — was one of many remarkable scientific achievements of the almost forgotten Tyndall.

Apart from the notable exceptions of the Tyndall Institute in University College Cork (UCC) and the Tyndall Centre in Britain, this major scientist remains a relatively unknown figure. Yet in his time he was internationally renowned, a famous and controversial advocate of science, and a supporter of his contemporary and colleague Charles Darwin.

This year marks 150 years since he published one of his most remarkable scientific papers. This paper outlined how with great difficulty and tremendous application, he succeeded in building the first instrument capable of measuring invisible radiation, associated with heating, as is used in today’s microwave ovens.

Using this instrument he examined how this radiation was transmitted through the atmosphere and answered one of the major scientific questions of the time — why was the Earth so warm? In doing so he identified the critical role of relatively minor atmospheric components, carbon dioxide and water vapour, in trapping invisible heat radiation and keeping the planet warm.

We now know that a wide range of other greenhouse gases play a key role in determining the Earth’s temperature and its climate.

Of more concern is that the atmospheric build up of greenhouse gases, mainly from fossil fuel use, is driving climate change and threatening key earth systems such as the cryosphere, sensitive ecosystems, and food production in vulnerable part of the world.

Tyndall’s findings of a century and a half ago are also at the heart of many things we take for granted today, not least the microwave oven. His techniques have been refined and developed into a whole branch of science and applied in sensors used in a range of instruments and systems. His scientific legacy is enormous and for some as controversial as the legacy of his contemporary Charles Darwin.

Tyndall is also part of Ireland’s neglected scientific heritage. To highlight and celebrate his scientific work, the Environmental Protection Agency and Royal Irish Academy have organised a major international conference, which continues today and tomorrow in Dublin Castle.

It showcases the global importance of Tyndall and examines how his work has developed over 150 years. It is being attended by many of today’s leading international scientists in the areas of global warming and climate change and those working on the cutting edge of advanced instrumentation and analysis including European Space Agency satellite Earth observation systems.

Ireland continues to have leading roles in climate, atmospheric, spectroscopic and other research. Outputs from the Mace Head atmospheric research station in Connemara, Met Éireann, the Irish centre for high-end computing analysis of climate and the Tyndall Institute’s work on ICT systems and tools, all feed into international understanding and the search for solutions.

Understanding Tyndall’s scientific legacy is therefore more than just a “blue sky” message. It is essential to addressing the global challenge of climate change.

On a practical level for Ireland, this means meeting the stringent EU 2020 greenhouse gas emissions limits and planning to become effectively carbon neutral by 2050. In doing this we will need innovation in technologies, systems and thinking across all sectors.

The opportunity is that these solutions are in demand globally.

The Tyndall conference should stimulate thinking not just in science and research, but in business and institutions. Ireland has the capacity to meet its 2020 emissions targets. The challenge is to do so in manner that turns this into an opportunity.

Details of the conference can be found at tyndallconference2011.org

- Dr Frank McGovern is senior scientist in climate change with the EPA and member of Tyndall’s conference scientific steering committee.