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Veerabhadran Ramanathan: The Accidental Pioneer of Climate Science

KVIA••CNN Newsource
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Veerabhadran Ramanathan, a distinguished climate scientist, has been awarded the Crafoord Prize for his groundbreaking work on the greenhouse effects of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). His research, initiated in the 1970s while working at NASA, revealed that CFCs are significantly more potent in trapping heat than carbon dioxide, leading to a paradigm shift in understanding global warming. Ramanathan's findings were crucial in establishing the importance of various greenhouse gases and contributed to the 1987 Montreal Protocol, which banned CFC production. His work has had a lasting impact on climate policy and awareness, underscoring the urgency of addressing global warming. The prize, valued at approximately $900,000, highlights his contributions to atmospheric science and climate change.

Key Details: • Crafoord Prize awarded on Thursday, worth 8 million Swedish krona (around $900,000). • Ramanathan's pivotal research began in the 1970s at NASA Langley Research Center. • His findings contributed to the 1987 Montreal Protocol banning CFCs. • CFCs can have a warming effect equivalent to up to 10,000 times that of CO2.

environment science climate-change global-warming cfc

People & Organizations

Veerabhadran RamanathanMario MolinaFrank RowlandSpencer WeartNASA Langley Research CenterIndian subcontinentRoyal Swedish Academy of SciencesScripps Institution of Oceanography

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