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Global warming potential by gas type

Relative global warming potentials of various emissions, by contaminant

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