This is a list of long-lived, well-mixed greenhouse gases, along with their atmospheric concentrations and direct radiative forcings, as identified by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).[1] Abundances of these long-lived gases are regularly measured by atmospheric scientists from samples that are collected throughout the world.[2][3][4] Since the 1980's, the annual forcing contributions of the most influential gases are also estimated with high accuracy using IPCC-recommended expressions derived from radiative transfer models.[5]
This list excludes short-lived gases (e.g. ozone, carbon monoxide, NOx) and aerosols (e.g. mineral dust, black carbon) that vary more strongly over location and time. The large influences from water vapor and the complex dynamics of clouds are likewise not included here.
Combined Summary from IPCC Assessment Reports (TAR, AR4, AR5)
Mole fractions: μmol/mol = ppm = parts per million (106); nmol/mol = ppb = parts per billion (109); pmol/mol = ppt = parts per trillion (1012).
| Species | Lifetime (years) [6]:731 | 100-yr GWP [6]:731 | Concentration [ppt - except as noted] | Radiative forcing [W m−2] | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base 1750 | TAR[7] 1998 | AR4[8] 2005 | AR5[6]:678 2011 | Data[9][10] 2020 | TAR[7] 1998 | AR4[8] 2005 | AR5[6]:678 2011 | AR6[11] 202x | |||
| CO2 [ppm] | [A] | 1 | 278 | 365 | 379 | 391 | ) | 1.46 | 1.66 | 1.82 | |
| CH4 [ppb] | 12.4 | 28 | 700 | 1,745 | 1,774 | 1,801 | ) | 0.48 | 0.48 | 0.48 | |
| N2O [ppb] | 121 | 265 | 270 | 314 | 319 | 324 | ){kind=small} | 0.15 | 0.16 | 0.17 | |
| CFC-11 | 45 | 4,660 | 0 | 268 | 251 | 238 | ){kind=small} | 0.07 | 0.063 | 0.062 | |
| CFC-12 | 100 | 10,200 | 0 | 533 | 538 | 528 | ){kind=small} | 0.17 | 0.17 | 0.17 | |
| CFC-13 | 640 | 13,900 | 0 | 4 | - | 2.7 | [10] | 0.001 | - | 0.0007 | |
| CFC-113 | 85 | 6,490 | 0 | 84 | 79 | 74 | ){kind=small} | 0.03 | 0.024 | 0.022 | |
| CFC-114 | 190 | 7,710 | 0 | 15 | - | - | [10] | 0.005 | - | - | |
| CFC-115 | 1,020 | 5,860 | 0 | 7 | - | 8.37 | [10] | 0.001 | - | 0.0017 | |
| HCFC-22 | 11.9 | 5,280 | 0 | 132 | 169 | 213 | ){kind=small} | 0.03 | 0.033 | 0.0447 | |
| HCFC-141b | 9.2 | 2,550 | 0 | 10 | 18 | 21.4 | ){kind=small} | 0.001 | 0.0025 | 0.0034 | |
| HCFC-142b | 17.2 | 5,020 | 0 | 11 | 15 | 21.2 | ){kind=small} | 0.002 | 0.0031 | 0.0040 | |
| CH3CCl3 | 5 | 160 | 0 | 69 | 19 | 6.32 | ){kind=small} | 0.004 | 0.0011 | 0.0004 | |
| CCl4 | 26 | 1,730 | 0 | 102 | 93 | 85.8 | ){kind=small} | 0.01 | 0.012 | 0.0146 | |
| HFC-23 | 222 | 12,400 | 0 | 14 | 18 | 24 | [10] | 0.002 | 0.0033 | 0.0043 | |
| HFC-32 | 5.2 | 677 | 0 | - | - | 4.92 | ){kind=small} | - | - | 0.0005 | |
| HFC-125 | 28.2 | 3,170 | 0 | - | 3.7 | 9.58 | ){kind=small} | - | 0.0009 | 0.0022 | |
| HFC-134a | 13.4 | 1,300 | 0 | 7.5 | 35 | 62.7 | _concentration.gif')) | 0.001 | 0.0055 | 0.0100 | |
| HFC-143a | 47.1 | 4,800 | 0 | - | - | 12.0 | ){kind=small} | - | - | 0.0019 | |
| HFC-152a | 1.5 | 138 | 0 | 0.5 | 3.9 | 6.4 | ){kind=small} | 0.000 | 0.0004 | 0.0006 | |
| CF4 (PFC-14) | 50,000 | 6,630 | 40 | 80 | 74 | 79 | ) | 0.003 | 0.0034 | 0.0040 | |
| C2F6 (PFC-116) | 10,000 | 11,100 | 0 | 3 | 2.9 | 4.16 | ){kind=small} | 0.001 | 0.0008 | 0.0010 | |
| SF6 | 3,200 | 23,500 | 0 | 4.2 | 5.6 | 7.28 | ) | 0.002 | 0.0029 | 0.0041 | |
| SO2F2 | 36 | 4,090 | 0 | - | - | 1.71 | ){kind=small} | - | - | 0.0003 | |
| NF3 | 500 | 16,100 | 0 | - | - | 0.9 | ){kind=small} | - | - | 0.0002 | |
A The IPCC states that "no single atmospheric lifetime can be given" for CO2.[6]:731 This is mostly due to the rapid growth and cumulative magnitude of the disturbances to Earth's carbon cycle by the geologic extraction and burning of fossil carbon.[12] As of year 2014, fossil CO2 emitted as a theoretical 10 to 100 GtC pulse on top of the existing atmospheric concentration was expected to be 50% removed by land vegetation and ocean sinks in less than about a century, as based on the projections of coupled models referenced in the AR5 assessment.[13] A substantial fraction (20-35%) was also projected to remain in the atmosphere for centuries to millennia, where fractional persistence increases with pulse size.[14][15]
Gases from IPCC Fourth Assessment Report
The following table has its sources in Chapter 2, p. 141, Table 2.1. of the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, Climate Change 2007 (AR4), Working Group 1 Report, The Physical Science Basis.[8]
| Mole fractions and their changes | Radiative forcing | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | 2005 | Change since 1998 | 2005 (W m−2) | 1998 (%) |
| CO2 | 379 ± 0.65 μmol/mol | +13 μmol/mol | 1.66 | +13 |
| CH4 | 1,774 ± 1.8 nmol/mol | +11 nmol/mol | 0.48 | – |
| N2O | 319 ± 0.12 nmol/mol | +5 nmol/mol | 0.16 | +11 |
| CFC-11 | 251 ± 0.36 pmol/mol | −13 | 0.063 | −5 |
| CFC-12 | 538 ± 0.18 pmol/mol | +4 | 0.17 | +1 |
| CFC-113 | 79 ± 0.064 pmol/mol | −4 | 0.024 | −5 |
| HCFC-22 | 169 ± 1.0 pmol/mol | +38 | 0.033 | +29 |
| HCFC-141b | 18 ± 0.068 pmol/mol | +9 | 0.0025 | +93 |
| HCFC-142b | 15 ± 0.13 pmol/mol | +6 | 0.0031 | +57 |
| CH3CCl3 | 19 ± 0.47 pmol/mol | −47 | 0.0011 | −72 |
| CCl4 | 93 ± 0.17 pmol/mol | −7 | 0.012 | −7 |
| HFC-125 | 3.7 ± 0.10 pmol/mol | +2.6 | 0.0009 | +234 |
| HFC-134a | 35 ± 0.73 pmol/mol | +27 | 0.0055 | +349 |
| HFC-152a | 3.9 ± 0.11 pmol/mol | +2.4 | 0.0004 | +151 |
| HFC-23 | 18 ± 0.12 pmol/mol | +4 | 0.0033 | +29 |
| SF6 | 5.6 ± 0.038 pmol/mol | +1.5 | 0.0029 | +36 |
| CF4 (PFC-14) | 74 ± 1.6 pmol/mol | – | 0.0034 | – |
| C2F6 (PFC-116) | 2.9 ± 0.025 pmol/mol | +0.5 | 0.0008 | +22 |
Gases from IPCC Third Assessment Report
The following table has its sources in Chapter 6, p. 358, Table 6.1. of the IPCC Third Assessment Report, Climate Change 2001 (TAR), Working Group 1, The Scientific Basis.[7]
Gases relevant to radiative forcing only
| Gas | Alternate name | Formula | 1998 level | Increase since 1750 | Radiative forcing (Wm−2) | Specific heat at STP (J kg−1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon dioxide | Carbonic anhydride | (CO2) | 365 μmol/mol | 87 μmol/mol | 1.46 | 0.819 |
| Methane | Marsh gas | (CH4) | 1,745 nmol/mol | 1,045 nmol/mol | 0.48 | 2.191 |
| Nitrous oxide | Laughing gas | (N2O) | 314 nmol/mol | 44 nmol/mol | 0.15 | 0.88 |
| Tetrafluoromethane | Carbon tetrafluoride | (CF4) | 80 pmol/mol | 40 pmol/mol | 0.003 | 1.33 |
| Hexafluoroethane | Perfluoroethane | (C2F6) | 3 pmol/mol | 3 pmol/mol | 0.001 | 0.067 |
| Sulfur hexafluoride | Sulfur fluoride | (SF6) | 4.2 pmol/mol | 4.2 pmol/mol | 0.002 | 0.074 |
| HFC-23 | Trifluoromethane | (CHF3) | 14 pmol/mol | 14 pmol/mol | 0.002 | 0.064 |
| HFC-134a | 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane | C2H2F4 | 7.5 pmol/mol | 7.5 pmol/mol | 0.001 | 0.007 |
| HFC-152a | 1,1-Difluoroethane | (C2H4F2) | 0.5 pmol/mol | 0.5 pmol/mol | 0.000 | 0.04 |
Gases relevant to radiative forcing and ozone depletion
| Gas | Alternate name | Formula | 1998 level | Increase since 1750 | Radiative forcing (Wm−2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CFC-11§ | Trichlorofluoromethane | (CFCl3) | 268 pmol/mol | 268 pmol/mol | 0.07 |
| CFC-12§ | Dichlorodifluoromethane | (CF2Cl2) | 533 pmol/mol | 533 pmol/mol | 0.17 |
| CFC-13§ | Chlorotrifluoromethane | (CClF3) | 4 pmol/mol | 4 pmol/mol | 0.001 |
| CFC-113 | 1,1,1-Trichlorotrifluoroethane | (C2F3Cl3) | 84 pmol/mol | 84 pmol/mol | 0.03 |
| CFC-114 | 1,2-Dichlorotetrafluoroethane | (C2F4Cl2) | 15 pmol/mol | 15 pmol/mol | 0.005 |
| CFC-115 | Chloropentafluoroethane | (C2F5Cl) | 7 pmol/mol | 7 pmol/mol | 0.001 |
| Carbon tetrachloride | Tetrachloromethane | (CCl4) | 102 pmol/mol | 102 pmol/mol | 0.01 |
| 1,1,1-Trichloroethane | Methyl chloroform | (CH3CCl3) | 69 pmol/mol | 69 pmol/mol | 0.004 |
| HCFC-141b | 1,1-Dichloro-1-fluoroethane | (C2H3FCl2) | 10 pmol/mol | 10 pmol/mol | 0.001 |
| HCFC-142b | 1-Chloro-1,1-difluoroethane | (C2H3F2Cl) | 11 pmol/mol | 11 pmol/mol | 0.002 |
| Halon-1211 | Bromochlorodifluoromethane | (CClF2Br) | 3.8 pmol/mol | 3.8 pmol/mol | 0.001 |
| Halon-1301 | Bromotrifluoromethane | (CF3Br) | 2.5 pmol/mol | 2.5 pmol/mol | 0.001 |
See also
References
- ^ AR5 Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis.
- ^ "Global Monitoring Laboratory". NOAA Earth System Research Laboratories. Retrieved 2020-12-11.
- ^ "World Data Centre for Greenhouse Gases". World Meteorological Organization Global Atmosphere Watch Programme and Japan Meteorological Agency. Retrieved 2020-12-11.
- ^ "Advanced Global Atmospheric Gas Experiment". Massachusettes Institute of Technology. Retrieved 2020-12-11.
- ^ Butler J. and Montzka S. (2020). "The NOAA Annual Greenhouse Gas Index (AGGI)". NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory/Earth System Research Laboratories.
- ^ a b c d e "Chapter 8". AR5 Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis.
- ^ a b c "Chapter 6". TAR Climate Change 2001: The Scientific Basis. p. 358.
- ^ a b c "Chapter 2". AR4 Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. p. 141.
- ^ "Long-term global trends of atmospheric trace gases". NOAA Earth System Research Laboratories. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
- ^ a b c d e "AGAGE Data and Figures". Massachusettes Institute of Technology. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
- ^ The IPCC and the Sixth Assessment cycle (PDF) AR6 publication scheduled in 2022
- ^ Friedlingstein, P., Jones, M., O'Sullivan, M., Andrew, R., Hauck, J., Peters, G., Peters, W., Pongratz, J., Sitch, S., Le Quéré, C. and 66 others (2019) "Global carbon budget 2019". Earth System Science Data, 11(4): 1783–1838. doi:10.5194/essd-11-1783-2019
- ^ "Figure 8.SM.4" (PDF). Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fifth Assessment Report. p. 8SM-16.
- ^ Archer, David (2009). "Atmospheric lifetime of fossil fuel carbon dioxide". Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences. 37 (1): 117–34. Bibcode:2009AREPS..37..117A. doi:10.1146/annurev.earth.031208.100206.
- ^ Joos, F., Roth, R., Fuglestvedt, J.D.; et al. (2013). "Carbon dioxide and climate impulse response functions for the computation of greenhouse gas metrics: A multi-model analysis". Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. 13 (5): 2793–2825. doi:10.5194/acpd-12-19799-2012.