Final answer:
Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is used as the baseline for global warming potential and it has a GWP of 1. Other gases such as methane and nitrous oxide have higher GWP values, reflecting their greater impact on global warming per molecule compared to CO₂.
Step-by-step explanation:
The gas used as the baseline for measuring global warming potential (GWP) is carbon dioxide (CO₂). The GWP compares the ability of different greenhouse gases to trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming. CO₂ is the most prevalent greenhouse gas and is therefore assigned a GWP of 1. Methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and synthetic fluorinated gases have higher GWP values than CO₂ because they are more effective at absorbing infrared radiation and have longer atmospheric lifetimes.
Carbon dioxide is released in significant quantities both naturally and anthropogenically, particularly through the burning of fossil fuels and changes in land use. As the primary measurement for GWP, CO₂ levels have risen dramatically since the industrial revolution, indicating a substantial human impact on global climate change.