Text table 4
Global warming potentials and atmospheric lifetimes

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Greenhouse gas Formula 100-year global warming potential Atmospheric lifetime (years)
Carbon dioxide CO2 1 variable
Methane CH4 21 12 ± 3
Nitrous oxide N2O 310 120
Sulphur hexafluoride SF6 23,900 3,200
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
HFC-23 CHF3 11,700 264
HFC-32 CH2F2 650 5.6
HFC-41 CH3F 150 3.7
HFC-43-10mee C5H2F10 1,300 17.1
HFC-125 C2HF5 2,800 32.6
HFC-134 C2H2F4 (CHF2CHF2) 1,000 10.6
HFC-134a C2H2F4 (CH2FCF3) 1,300 14.6
HFC-143 C2H3F3 (CHF2CH2F) 300 1.5
HFC-143a C2H3F3 (CF3CH3) 3,800 3.8
HFC-152a C2H4F2 (CH3CHF2) 140 48.3
HFC-227ea C3HF7 2,900 36.5
HFC-236fa C3H2F6 6,300 209
HFC-245ca C3H3F5 560 6.6
Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
Perfluoromethane CF4 6,500 50,000
Perfluoroethane C2F6 9,200 10,000
Perfluoropropane C3F8 7,000 2,600
Perfluorobutane C4F10 7,000 2,600
Perfluorocyclobutane c-C4F8 8,700 3,200
Perfluoropentane C5F12 7,500 4,100
Perfluorohexane C6F14 7,400 3,200
Source: Environment Canada, 2007
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