Which of the following gases is used as reference to calculate "Global Warming Potential (GWP)"?

Correct option is C

The correct answer is (c) Carbon dioxide.

· Global Warming Potential (GWP) is a measure used to compare the ability of different greenhouse gases to trap heat in the atmosphere over a specific time period, typically 100 years.
· Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is used as the reference gas for GWP and is assigned a GWP of 1.
· Other gases are compared to CO₂ to determine their relative impact on global warming.
· For example, methane (CH₄) has a GWP of approximately 25 over 100 years, meaning it is 25 times more effective at trapping heat than CO₂.
Information Booster:
· Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂): A pollutant gas contributing to the formation of smog and acid rain but not primarily used for GWP calculations.
· Methane (CH₄): A potent greenhouse gas with a GWP of about 25 over 100 years, indicating it has a higher heat-trapping ability compared to CO₂.
· Ozone (O₃): Found in the stratosphere as the ozone layer and at ground level as a pollutant; has a GWP, but CO₂ remains the reference gas.