Increase in HFC‐134a emissions in response to the success of the Montreal Protocol. Issue 22 (18th November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fortems‐Cheiney, A.; Saunois, M.; Pison, I.; Chevallier, F.; Bousquet, P.; Cressot, C.; Montzka, S. A.; Fraser, P. J.; Vollmer, M. K.; Simmonds, P. G.; Young, D.; O'Doherty, S.; Weiss, R. F.; Artuso, F.; Barletta, B.; Blake, D. R.; Li, S.; Lunder, C.; Miller, B. R.; Park, S.; Prinn, R.; Saito, T.; Steele, L. P.; Yokouchi, Y.
• Is Part Of: Journal of geophysical research. Volume 120:Issue 22(2015:Dec.)
• Page Start: 11, 728
• Page End: 11, 742
• Publication Date: 2015-11-18
• Subjects: inverse modeling -- HFC‐134a; Atmospheric physics -- Periodicals; Geophysics -- Periodicals; 551.5
• DOI: 10.1002/2015JD023741
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2169-897X

Abstract

Abstract: The 1, 1, 1, 2‐tetrafluoroethane (HFC‐134a), an important alternative to CFC‐12 in accordance with the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, is a high global warming potential greenhouse gas. Here we evaluate variations in global and regional HFC‐134a emissions and emission trends, from 1995 to 2010, at a relatively high spatial and temporal (3.75° in longitude × 2.5° in latitude and 8 day) resolution, using surface HFC‐134a measurements. Our results show a progressive increase of global HFC‐134a emissions from 19 ± 2 Gg/yr in 1995 to 167 ± 5 Gg/yr in 2010, with both a slowdown in developed countries and a 20%/yr increase in China since 2005. A seasonal cycle is also seen since 2002, which becomes enhanced over time, with larger values during the boreal summer. Key Points: New estimation of HFC‐134a emissions from 1995 to 2010 Seasonal cycle seen since 2002 during the boreal summer Annual US budgets increasing after 2005, in disagreement with the EPA's estimates