GWPpotentsiaaliga

GWPpotentsiaaliga refers to the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of a substance. GWP is a measure of how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere over a specific time period. It is a relative measure, comparing the warming effect of a substance to that of carbon dioxide (CO2), which is assigned a GWP of 1. The GWP of a substance depends on its ability to absorb infrared radiation, its atmospheric lifetime, and the time horizon considered. Common time horizons are 20 years, 100 years, and 500 years. A substance with a high GWP will contribute more to global warming than a substance with a low GWP over the same time period.

Gases with high GWP values, such as methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and certain synthetic gases like hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and perfluorocarbons (PFCs), are of particular concern because even small emissions can have a significant warming impact. For instance, methane has a GWP of 28-34 over 100 years, meaning it traps 28 to 34 times more heat than carbon dioxide over that period. Nitrous oxide has a GWP of 265-298 over 100 years. Understanding the GWPpotentsiaaliga of different substances is crucial for developing effective climate change mitigation strategies, as it helps prioritize emissions reductions for the most potent warming gases. This concept is fundamental in international climate agreements and national emissions inventories.