Greenhouse gases differ in their ability to trap heat in the atmosphere. C02 has the least ability to trap gases, while SF6 has the greatest. Each molecule of SF6 traps 23,900 more heat than a single nolecule of C02. The ability of greenhouse gases to trap heat is termed its Warming Potential. Each molecule of C02 has a warming potential of 1. The warming potential of the other greenhouse gases is provided on the table below.
|
Gas |
GWP |
|
Carbon dioxide (CO2) |
1 |
|
Methane (CH4) |
21 |
|
Nitrous Oxide (N20) |
310 |
|
HFC-23 |
11,700 |
|
HFC-125 |
2,800 |
|
HFC-134a |
1,300 |
|
HFC-143a |
3,800 |
|
HFC-152a |
140 |
|
HFC-227ea |
2,900 |
|
HFC-236fa |
6,300 |
|
HFC-4310mee |
1,300 |
|
Perfluoromethane (CF4) |
6,500 |
|
Perfluoromethane (C2F6) |
9,200 |
|
Perfluoromethane (C4F10) |
7,000 |
|
Perfluoromethane (C6F14) |
7,400 |
|
Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6) |
23,900 |
| |
|
Source (IPCC 1996) from the EPA Global Warming Site: National Emissions - Global Warming Potentials.
*Not all greenhouse gases are to be controlled under the Kyoto Protocol.
**Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Climate Change 1995: The Science of Climate Change, Cambridge University Press, 1995, Table 2.9, p.121.
Greenhouse Gas Concentrations
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