How do you measure Greenhouse Gases?

How do you measure Greenhouse Gases?

Each greenhouse gas traps the sun’s energy to varying degrees. This is called the chemical’s radiative forcing (or global warming potential– [GWP]). By measuring and describing a greenhouse gas in terms of its global warming potential, its radiative forcing can be converted to a similar unit of carbon dioxide equivalents. The radiative forcing of a gas is dependent on how it reacts with long-wave radiation coming from the Earth and how long lived it is. For example, one molecule of SF6 warms the planet to a similar extent as 23,900 molecules of CO2.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Atmospheric Lifetime (Years): 50-200
Global Warming Potential (100 Year): 1


Methane (CH4) 9-15 21
Atmospheric Lifetime (Years): 50-200
Global Warming Potential (100 Year): 1

Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
Atmospheric Lifetime (Years): 120
Global Warming Potential (100 Year): 310

HFC – 134A
Atmospheric Lifetime (Years): 15
Global Warming Potential (100 Year): 1,300

HFC – 404A8
Atmospheric Lifetime (Years): >48
Global Warming Potential (100 Year): 3,260

Sulfur Hexafl uoride (SF6)
Atmospheric Lifetime (Years): 3,200
Global Warming Potential (100 Year): 23,900

(Source:http://www.sustainableunh.unh.edu/climate_ed/greenhouse-gas-invnt/1990-2003_UNH_GHG_Report.pdf)