What Are the Most Significant Greenhouse Gases?
The six main greenhouse gases are:Â Â
- Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
- Methane (CH4)
- Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
- Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
- Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
- Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6)Â Â
  Of these the most significant greenhouse gases carbon dioxide which makes up approximately 77% of global greenhouse gas emissions. However, because we has gases vary in their ability to trap heat in the atmosphere some of these greenhouse gases are more harmful to the climate than others. Greenhouse gases have what is known as a Global Warming Potential (GWP), to indicate their ability to trap heat and subsequently had to global warming. The global warming potential measure compares each of the greenhouse gases relative to carbon dioxide, and greenhouse gases are subsequently often reported as CO2 equivalents. To this end, carbon dioxide which is the most prevalent greenhouse gas has a global warming potential of one. However, methane is 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide and it therefore has a global warming potential of 21.
|
