What is the greenhouse effect & has it been predicted accurately?

In the 19th century, scientists discovered that certain gases in the air trap and slow down heat that would otherwise escape to space. Carbon dioxide is a major player; without any of it in the air, the Earth would be a frozen wasteland.

The first prediction that the planet would warm as humans released more of the gas was made in 1896. The gas has increased 43% above the pre-industrial level so far, and the Earth has warmed by roughly the amount that scientists predicted it would.

Source: NYT

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