View source for GWP (Global Warming Potential) - TX

== GWP (Global Warming Potential) ==
Global Warming Potential (GWP) is a metric used to compare the relative impact of different greenhouse gases (GHGs) on global warming. It measures how much energy the emissions of 1 ton of a gas will absorb over a given period of time, compared to the emissions of 1 ton of carbon dioxide (CO2). The larger the GWP, the more that a given gas warms the Earth compared to CO2 over that time period.

=== Time Horizons for GWP ===
The GWP values are typically calculated over specific time horizons, most commonly 20 years and 100 years, due to the differing lifetimes of GHGs in the atmosphere. This provides a measure of the immediate and long-term impacts of these gases on the atmosphere:
* '''20-Year Time Horizon''': Highlights the short-term impacts of GHGs. It's particularly useful for gases like methane (CH4), which have a shorter atmospheric lifetime but a high short-term impact on global warming.
* '''100-Year Time Horizon''': Provides a measure of the long-term impact of GHGs. This is the more commonly used time frame, especially in global climate agreements and policies.

=== GWP Values for Common GHGs ===
Below is a table showcasing the GWP values for some common greenhouse gases over both 20-year and 100-year time horizons:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Greenhouse Gas !! Chemical Formula !! GWP (20 years !! GWP (100 years)
|-
| Carbon Dioxide || CO2|| 1 || 1
|-
| Methane || CH4 || 84-87 || 28-36
|-
| Nitrous Oxide || N2O || 264-268 || 265-298
|-
| HFC-134a || C2H2F4 || 3830 || 1430
|-
| SF6 || Sulfur Hexafluorid || 17300|| 23500
|}




[[Category: Glossary of Terms]]