Üvegházhatáspotenciál

Üvegházhatáspotenciál, often abbreviated as GWP (Global Warming Potential), is a measure used to quantify the contribution of a greenhouse gas to global warming relative to carbon dioxide. It represents the integrated radiative forcing of a given mass of a greenhouse gas over a specified time horizon, compared to the same mass of carbon dioxide. The most common time horizon used is 100 years, hence the term GWP100. This metric allows for a standardized comparison of the warming impact of different greenhouse gases, such as methane, nitrous oxide, and various fluorinated gases, over a common timescale.

A higher GWP value indicates that a gas has a greater warming effect per unit mass over the specified time horizon. For example, methane has a significantly higher GWP than carbon dioxide over 100 years, meaning that a kilogram of methane traps much more heat than a kilogram of carbon dioxide during that period. Conversely, some gases may have very short atmospheric lifetimes, resulting in lower GWPs despite their high warming potential in the short term. The concept of GWP is crucial for climate policy and emissions inventories, as it helps in prioritizing efforts to reduce the emissions of the most potent warming gases. However, it's important to note that GWP is a simplification and does not account for all factors influencing climate change, such as indirect effects or regional variations in warming.