Question

Understand what is meant by "global warming potential"

A) The rate of temperature increase in urban areas
B) The ability of a greenhouse gas to trap heat in the atmosphere
C) The cooling effect of aerosols on the planet
D) The rate at which glaciers melt due to global warming

Answer 1

Global Warming Potential (GWP) is a measure of a greenhouse gas's ability to absorb heat in the atmosphere and contribute to global warming, with carbon dioxide setting the reference point with a GWP of 1.

Step-by-step explanation:

The term Global Warming Potential (GWP) refers to the ability of a greenhouse gas to trap heat in the atmosphere, which then contributes to global warming. Just as greenhouse gases differ in their sources and their duration in the atmosphere, they also differ in their potential to increase Earth's temperature.

This is measured by the GWP of each gas. GWP is based on the gas's ability to absorb and scatter energy, as well as its lifetime in the atmosphere. For reference, carbon dioxide (CO₂) has a GWP of 1, and other gases are measured relative to this. The concept of GWP is crucial for understanding the impact of different greenhouse gases on climate change.