MACS 609 Certification Practice Exam

What does the Global Warming Potential (GWP) measure?

1. Ability to cause acid rain

2. Relative ability to produce a global warming effect

3. Potential for chemical reactivity

4. Likelihood of ozone depletion

The correct answer is: Relative ability to produce a global warming effect

The Global Warming Potential (GWP) is a metric that quantifies the relative ability of a greenhouse gas to trap heat in the atmosphere over a specified timeframe, typically 100 years, compared to carbon dioxide (CO2). It provides an index that reflects how much heat a greenhouse gas can capture in relation to CO2, thereby indicating its potential contribution to the greenhouse effect and global warming. GWP is essential for understanding the impact of various gases on climate change and helps policymakers and scientists prioritize actions to mitigate emissions from specific sources based on the potency of different greenhouse gases. Thus, when assessing the overall impact of greenhouse gases on global warming, the GWP serves as a critical measure of their effectiveness in contributing to climate change. Other aspects, such as chemical reactivity, contribution to acid rain, or ozone depletion, are not directly measured by GWP. Acid rain relates more to sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, while ozone depletion is tied to substances like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). The focus of GWP is explicitly on the heat-trapping capability of gases in the context of climate change.