GWP is a measure of how much energy a gas traps in the atmosphere over 100 years.

• A. It measures energy trapped by the atmosphere over 100 years
• B. It measures how much a gas contributes to air quality degradation
• C. It compares warming potential to carbon dioxide over 100 years
• D. It indicates the gas's reactivity in the atmosphere

Answer: (C)

Global Warming Potential measures how much warming a gas would cause in the atmosphere relative to carbon dioxide over a century. It’s a relative, time-horizon-based index, so the value shows how much more or less energy-trapping potential a gas has compared with CO2 during that 100-year period. This helps compare different greenhouse gases for climate impact. It isn’t a direct measure of energy trapped by the atmosphere, nor a gauge of air quality effects, nor a reflection of chemical reactivity. The 100-year frame is a standard convention used in climate assessments.