Abrupt reversal in emissions and atmospheric abundance of HCFC‐133a (CF3CH2Cl). Issue 20 (23rd October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vollmer, Martin K.; Rigby, Matt; Laube, Johannes C.; Henne, Stephan; Rhee, Tae Siek; Gooch, Lauren J.; Wenger, Angelina; Young, Dickon; Steele, L. Paul; Langenfelds, Ray L.; Brenninkmeijer, Carl A. M.; Wang, Jia‐Lin; Ou‐Yang, Chang‐Feng; Wyss, Simon A.; Hill, Matthias; Oram, David E.; Krummel, Paul B.; Schoenenberger, Fabian; Zellweger, Christoph; Fraser, Paul J.; Sturges, William T.; O'Doherty, Simon; Reimann, Stefan
• Is Part Of: Geophysical research letters. Volume 42:Issue 20(2015:Oct.)
• Page Start: 8702
• Page End: 8710
• Publication Date: 2015-10-23
• Subjects: Montreal Protocol -- HCFC -- emissions; Geophysics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Periodicals; Lunar geology -- Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1002/2015GL065846
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-8276

Abstract

Abstract: Hydrochlorofluorocarbon HCFC‐133a (CF3 CH2 Cl) is an anthropogenic compound whose consumption for emissive use is restricted under the Montreal Protocol. A recent study showed rapidly increasing atmospheric abundances and emissions. We report that, following this rise, the atmospheric abundance and emissions have declined sharply in the past three years. We find a Northern Hemisphere HCFC‐133a increase from 0.13 ppt (dry‐air mole fraction in parts per trillion) in 2000 to 0.50 ppt in 2012–mid‐2013 followed by an abrupt drop to ∼0.44 ppt by early 2015. Global emissions derived from these observations peaked at 3.1 kt in 2011, followed by a rapid decline of ∼0.5 kt yr −2 to reach 1.5 kt yr −1 in 2014. Sporadic HCFC‐133a pollution events are detected in Europe from our high‐resolution HCFC‐133a records at three European stations, and in Asia from samples collected in Taiwan. European emissions are estimated to be <0.1 kt yr −1 although emission hot spots were identified in France. Key Points: Atmospheric abundances of HCFC‐133a and emissions have suddenly reversed in the last three years The sources of HCFC‐133a to the atmosphere are likely from the production of HFC‐134a In Europe, the emissions of HCFC‐133a are less than 0.1 kt/yr while globally about 1.5 kt/yr