The Chemistry of Climate Change

Greenhouse Effect

300 nm

SpeciesAbsorption Region Estimated Global Warming

H2O 2.5, 3.5, 5-7 m ~110 Wm-2

CO2 14-19 m ~50 Wm-2

CH4 3-4, 7-8.5 m ~1.7 Wm-2

O3 9-10 m ~1.3 Wm-2

Greenhouse Gases

Global Warming Potential

:)(

:)(

)()(

)()(

0

0

tC

ta

dttCta

dttCtaGWP

i

i

H

CC

H

ii

Radiative forcing(net change in the flow of radiative energy per unit mass)

Due to species i

Concentration of Greenhouse gas

Due to CO2

Global Warming Potential

2

222

2

/

/

0

/

0

/

1

1CO

i

CO

i

H

H

COCO

iiH t

CO

H ti

e

ea

a

dtea

dteaGWP

Climate Change Indicator Integration Time Period

Maximum change in Temperature ~100 years

Rate of change in Temperature ~20-50 years

Maximum change in Sea Level >100 years

Rate of change in Sea Level >50 years

GAS GWP

Carbon dioxide (CO2) 1

Methane (CH4) 21

Nitrous oxide (N2O) 310

HFC-23 11,700

HFC-32 2,800

HFC-125 1,300

HFC-134a 3,800

HFC-143a 140

HFC-152a 2,900

HFC-227ea 2,900

HFC-236fa 6,300

HFC-4310mee 1,300

CF4 6,500

C2F6 9,200

SF6 23,900

Global Warming Potentials