Finding Global Warming Potential of Greenhouse Gases Using Cross-Sectional Infrared Spectroscopy

Infrared Spectra were taken of carbon dioxide gas to calculate Radiative Forcing (RF) through IR cross-section analysis, as a beginning of the creation of a new Physical Chemistry laboratory series that investigates Greenhouse Gases and leads students to calculate Global Warming Potential (GWP). The average RF value was 4.29 x 10-4, compared to a literature3 value of 1.4 x 10-5 W m-2. Refinement of the experimental setup must occur as next steps in this research, in order to test more gases (nitrous oxide and methane) and to calculate their GWPs