Are all greenhouse gases equally as effective at trapping heat?
No. Greenhouse gases differ in their ability to trap heat. A kilogram of methane released into the air today, for example, will lead to about 20 times more atmospheric warming over the next century than a kilogram of carbon dioxide. Molecule for molecule, methane, CFCs and nitrous oxide are more potent greenhouse gases than carbon dioxide. In order to compare the heating effect of different greenhouse gases, scientists have calculated a global warming potential for each one. The global warming potential takes into account: • the amount of radiation that the gas absorbs and the wavelength at which it absorbs. • the time that the gas stays in the atmosphere before reacting or being washed out by rainwater. • the current concentration of the gas in the atmosphere • any indirect effects of the gas. For example, methane will produce ozone gas in the lower atmosphere and water vapour in the stratosphere.
No. Greenhouse gases differ in their ability to trap heat. A kilogram of methane released into the air today, for example, will lead to about 20 times more atmospheric warming over the next century than a kilogram of carbon dioxide. Molecule for molecule, methane, CFCs and nitrous oxide are more potent greenhouse gases than carbon dioxide. In order to compare the heating effect of different greenhouse gases, scientists have calculated a global warming potential for each one.
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