What is Global Warming Potential (GWP)?
Global warming potentials (GWPs) are used to compare the abilities of different greenhouse gases to trap heat in the atmosphere. GWPs are based on the heat-absorbing ability of each gas relative to that of carbon dioxide (CO2), as well as the amount of the gas removed (decay rate) from the atmosphere over a given number of years relative to CO2.
The GWP provides a simple method of converting emissions of various gases into a single meassure, which allows scientists to aggregate the heat-absorbing ability of various greenhouse gases into a uniform measure denominated in carbon or carbon dioxide equivalents.
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- What is GWP?
Global Warming Potential
| Greenhouse Gas |
Chemical Name |
2001
- GWP |
| Carbon Dioxide |
CO2 |
1
|
| Methane |
CH4 |
23
|
| Nitrous Oxide |
|
296
|
|
Trifluoromethane
(HFC-23)
|
|
12,000
|
|
Pentafluoroethane
(HFC-125)
|
C2HF5 |
3,400
|
| HFC-134a |
|
1,300
|
| HFC-143a |
|
4,300
|
| HFC-152a |
|
120
|
| HFC-227ea |
|
3,500
|
| HFC-236fa |
|
9,400
|
| Perfluoromethane |
CF4 |
5,700
|
| 11,900 |
C2F6 |
11,900
|
| Sulfur
Hexafluoride |
SF6 |
22,200
|
SF6 is known as a 'super' greenhouse gas
