Global Warming Potential (GWP)

Global Warming Potential (GWP) is a metric used to compare the heat-trapping effect of different greenhouse gases in the atmosphere relative to carbon dioxide (CO2), which is assigned a GWP of 1. It quantifies both the capacity of a gas to absorb heat and its atmospheric lifetime. GWP is essential for understanding the impact of various gases on climate change, as some gases are significantly more potent than CO2 in warming the planet over specific time periods.

The GWP of a gas depends on two main factors:

• Radiative Efficiency: The ability of the gas to absorb infrared radiation (heat).
• Atmospheric Lifetime: The duration the gas remains in the atmosphere before breaking down.

Key greenhouse gases and their approximate GWP values over a 100-year period include:

• Carbon Dioxide (CO2): GWP of 1.
• Methane (CH4): GWP of around 28-36, depending on the specific time horizon considered.
• Nitrous Oxide (N2O): GWP of around 265-298.
• Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs): GWP ranges from hundreds to thousands, depending on the specific compound.

GWP is crucial in shaping climate policies and emission reduction targets, helping governments and organizations prioritize actions to mitigate climate change by focusing on gases with high GWP values.

Source(s):

• Eurostat. (2023). Glossary: Global-warming potential (GWP).
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2021). IPCC Sixth Assessment Report: The Physical Science Basis.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (n.d.). Understanding Global Warming Potentials.

You Might Also Be Interested In:

• Greenhouse Gases
• Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
• Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
• Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6)
• Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
• Methane (CH4)
• Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
• Climate Change
• Paris Agreement
• Anthropogenic Emissions