The data shows the relative global warming potential of various emissions, broken down by contaminant. A single mass of carbon dioxide is used as a baseline. Global warming potential measures how much heat a greenhouse gas is capable of trapping in the atmosphere. In a 20 year period, methane is capable of trapping 86 times the amount of heat that carbon dioxide traps.
Carbon dioxide | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Methane (12.4 years) | 86 | 34 | 8 |
Black carbon minimum (3-11 days) | 1200 | 300 | 100 |
Black carbon maximum (3-11 days) | 3200 | 1000 | 400 |
Nitrous oxide (121 years) | 270 | 300 | 150 |