Global warming potentials: 2.Accuracy
Steven J. Smith and T. M. L. Wigley
National Center for Atmospheric Research
P. O. Box 3000
Boulder, CO 80307
This paper exposes flaws in the mathematical structure of the Global Warming
Potential (GWP) concept. These lead to errors when emissions changes in
different greenhouse gases are compared. The most fundamental problem is that
the unit impulse response functions from which GWPs, and many of their proposed
alternatives, are constructed provide an incomplete representation of the
relationship between emissions and radiative forcing. Additional errors occur
when GWPs are used to compare finite-length emissions changes.
Back to Publications List
Hongjun Zhang:
zhangho@ucar.edu