Recent increases in the atmospheric growth rate and emissions of HFC-23 (CHF<sub>3</sub>) and the link to HCFC-22 (CHClF<sub>2</sub>) production
High frequency measurements of trifluoromethane (HFC-23, CHF<sub>3</sub>), a potent hydrofluorocarbon greenhouse gas, largely emitted to the atmosphere as a by-product of the production of the hydrochlorofluorocarbon HCFC-22 (CHClF<sub>2</sub>), at five core stations of th...
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Copernicus Publications
2018-03-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/18/4153/2018/acp-18-4153-2018.pdf |
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| author | P. G. Simmonds M. Rigby A. McCulloch M. K. Vollmer S. Henne J. Mühle S. O'Doherty A. J. Manning P. B. Krummel P. J. Fraser D. Young R. F. Weiss P. K. Salameh C. M. Harth S. Reimann C. M. Trudinger L. P. Steele R. H. J. Wang D. J. Ivy R. G. Prinn B. Mitrevski D. M. Etheridge |
| author_facet | P. G. Simmonds M. Rigby A. McCulloch M. K. Vollmer S. Henne J. Mühle S. O'Doherty A. J. Manning P. B. Krummel P. J. Fraser D. Young R. F. Weiss P. K. Salameh C. M. Harth S. Reimann C. M. Trudinger L. P. Steele R. H. J. Wang D. J. Ivy R. G. Prinn B. Mitrevski D. M. Etheridge |
| author_sort | P. G. Simmonds |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | High frequency measurements of trifluoromethane (HFC-23, CHF<sub>3</sub>), a potent
hydrofluorocarbon greenhouse gas, largely emitted to the atmosphere as a
by-product of the production of the hydrochlorofluorocarbon HCFC-22
(CHClF<sub>2</sub>), at five core stations of the Advanced Global Atmospheric Gases
Experiment (AGAGE) network, combined with measurements on firn air, old
Northern Hemisphere air samples and Cape Grim Air Archive (CGAA) air samples,
are used to explore the current and historic changes in the atmospheric
abundance of HFC-23. These measurements are used in combination with the
AGAGE 2-D atmospheric 12-box model and a Bayesian inversion methodology to
determine model atmospheric mole fractions and the history of global HFC-23
emissions. The global modelled annual mole fraction of HFC-23 in the
background atmosphere was 28.9 ± 0.6 pmol mol<sup>−1</sup> at the end of
2016, representing a 28 % increase from 22.6 ± 0.4 pmol mol<sup>−1</sup> in
2009. Over the same time frame, the modelled mole fraction of HCFC-22
increased by 19 % from 199 ± 2 to 237 ± 2 pmol mol<sup>−1</sup>. However, unlike HFC-23, the annual average HCFC-22 growth rate
slowed from 2009 to 2016 at an annual average rate of −0.5 pmol mol<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>−2</sup>. This slowing atmospheric growth is consistent with HCFC-22
moving from dispersive (high fractional emissions) to feedstock (low
fractional emissions) uses, with HFC-23 emissions remaining as a consequence
of incomplete mitigation from all HCFC-22 production.<br><br>Our results demonstrate that, following a minimum in HFC-23 global emissions
in 2009 of 9.6 ± 0.6, emissions increased to a maximum
in 2014 of 14.5 ± 0.6 Gg yr<sup>−1</sup> and then declined to 12.7 ± 0.6 Gg yr<sup>−1</sup>
(157 Mt CO<sub>2</sub> eq. yr<sup>−1</sup>) in 2016. The 2009
emissions minimum is consistent with estimates based on national reports and
is likely a response to the implementation of the Clean Development
Mechanism (CDM) to mitigate HFC-23 emissions by incineration in developing
(non-Annex 1) countries under the Kyoto Protocol. Our derived cumulative
emissions of HFC-23 during 2010–2016 were 89 ± 2 Gg
(1.1 ± 0.2 Gt CO<sub>2</sub> eq.), which led to an increase in radiative forcing of 1.0 ± 0.1 mW m<sup>−2</sup> over the same period. Although the CDM had reduced global
HFC-23 emissions, it cannot now offset the higher emissions from increasing
HCFC-22 production in non-Annex 1 countries, as the CDM was closed to new
entrants in 2009. We also find that the cumulative European HFC-23 emissions
from 2010 to 2016 were ∼ 1.3 Gg, corresponding to just 1.5 %
of cumulative global HFC-23 emissions over this same period. The majority of
the increase in global HFC-23 emissions since 2010 is attributed to a delay
in the adoption of mitigation technologies, predominantly in China and East
Asia. However, a reduction in emissions is anticipated, when the Kigali 2016
amendment to the Montreal Protocol, requiring HCFC and HFC production
facilities to introduce destruction of HFC-23, is fully implemented. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T20:28:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-af3ba9adc87548c99cd9972a0beb73f2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T20:28:47Z |
| publishDate | 2018-03-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-af3ba9adc87548c99cd9972a0beb73f22022-12-22T02:31:14ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242018-03-01184153416910.5194/acp-18-4153-2018Recent increases in the atmospheric growth rate and emissions of HFC-23 (CHF<sub>3</sub>) and the link to HCFC-22 (CHClF<sub>2</sub>) productionP. G. Simmonds0M. Rigby1A. McCulloch2M. K. Vollmer3S. Henne4J. Mühle5S. O'Doherty6A. J. Manning7P. B. Krummel8P. J. Fraser9D. Young10R. F. Weiss11P. K. Salameh12C. M. Harth13S. Reimann14C. M. Trudinger15L. P. Steele16R. H. J. Wang17D. J. Ivy18R. G. Prinn19B. Mitrevski20D. M. Etheridge21Atmospheric Chemistry Research Group, University of Bristol, Bristol, UKAtmospheric Chemistry Research Group, University of Bristol, Bristol, UKAtmospheric Chemistry Research Group, University of Bristol, Bristol, UKSwiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Laboratory for Air Pollution and Environmental Technology (Empa), Dübendorf, SwitzerlandSwiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Laboratory for Air Pollution and Environmental Technology (Empa), Dübendorf, SwitzerlandScripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California, USAAtmospheric Chemistry Research Group, University of Bristol, Bristol, UKMet Office Hadley Centre, Exeter, UKClimate Science Centre, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Oceans and Atmosphere, Aspendale, Victoria, AustraliaClimate Science Centre, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Oceans and Atmosphere, Aspendale, Victoria, AustraliaAtmospheric Chemistry Research Group, University of Bristol, Bristol, UKScripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California, USAScripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California, USAScripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California, USASwiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Laboratory for Air Pollution and Environmental Technology (Empa), Dübendorf, SwitzerlandClimate Science Centre, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Oceans and Atmosphere, Aspendale, Victoria, AustraliaClimate Science Centre, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Oceans and Atmosphere, Aspendale, Victoria, AustraliaSchool of Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USACenter for Global Change Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USACenter for Global Change Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USAClimate Science Centre, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Oceans and Atmosphere, Aspendale, Victoria, AustraliaClimate Science Centre, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Oceans and Atmosphere, Aspendale, Victoria, AustraliaHigh frequency measurements of trifluoromethane (HFC-23, CHF<sub>3</sub>), a potent hydrofluorocarbon greenhouse gas, largely emitted to the atmosphere as a by-product of the production of the hydrochlorofluorocarbon HCFC-22 (CHClF<sub>2</sub>), at five core stations of the Advanced Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment (AGAGE) network, combined with measurements on firn air, old Northern Hemisphere air samples and Cape Grim Air Archive (CGAA) air samples, are used to explore the current and historic changes in the atmospheric abundance of HFC-23. These measurements are used in combination with the AGAGE 2-D atmospheric 12-box model and a Bayesian inversion methodology to determine model atmospheric mole fractions and the history of global HFC-23 emissions. The global modelled annual mole fraction of HFC-23 in the background atmosphere was 28.9 ± 0.6 pmol mol<sup>−1</sup> at the end of 2016, representing a 28 % increase from 22.6 ± 0.4 pmol mol<sup>−1</sup> in 2009. Over the same time frame, the modelled mole fraction of HCFC-22 increased by 19 % from 199 ± 2 to 237 ± 2 pmol mol<sup>−1</sup>. However, unlike HFC-23, the annual average HCFC-22 growth rate slowed from 2009 to 2016 at an annual average rate of −0.5 pmol mol<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>−2</sup>. This slowing atmospheric growth is consistent with HCFC-22 moving from dispersive (high fractional emissions) to feedstock (low fractional emissions) uses, with HFC-23 emissions remaining as a consequence of incomplete mitigation from all HCFC-22 production.<br><br>Our results demonstrate that, following a minimum in HFC-23 global emissions in 2009 of 9.6 ± 0.6, emissions increased to a maximum in 2014 of 14.5 ± 0.6 Gg yr<sup>−1</sup> and then declined to 12.7 ± 0.6 Gg yr<sup>−1</sup> (157 Mt CO<sub>2</sub> eq. yr<sup>−1</sup>) in 2016. The 2009 emissions minimum is consistent with estimates based on national reports and is likely a response to the implementation of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to mitigate HFC-23 emissions by incineration in developing (non-Annex 1) countries under the Kyoto Protocol. Our derived cumulative emissions of HFC-23 during 2010–2016 were 89 ± 2 Gg (1.1 ± 0.2 Gt CO<sub>2</sub> eq.), which led to an increase in radiative forcing of 1.0 ± 0.1 mW m<sup>−2</sup> over the same period. Although the CDM had reduced global HFC-23 emissions, it cannot now offset the higher emissions from increasing HCFC-22 production in non-Annex 1 countries, as the CDM was closed to new entrants in 2009. We also find that the cumulative European HFC-23 emissions from 2010 to 2016 were ∼ 1.3 Gg, corresponding to just 1.5 % of cumulative global HFC-23 emissions over this same period. The majority of the increase in global HFC-23 emissions since 2010 is attributed to a delay in the adoption of mitigation technologies, predominantly in China and East Asia. However, a reduction in emissions is anticipated, when the Kigali 2016 amendment to the Montreal Protocol, requiring HCFC and HFC production facilities to introduce destruction of HFC-23, is fully implemented.https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/18/4153/2018/acp-18-4153-2018.pdf |
| spellingShingle | P. G. Simmonds M. Rigby A. McCulloch M. K. Vollmer S. Henne J. Mühle S. O'Doherty A. J. Manning P. B. Krummel P. J. Fraser D. Young R. F. Weiss P. K. Salameh C. M. Harth S. Reimann C. M. Trudinger L. P. Steele R. H. J. Wang D. J. Ivy R. G. Prinn B. Mitrevski D. M. Etheridge Recent increases in the atmospheric growth rate and emissions of HFC-23 (CHF<sub>3</sub>) and the link to HCFC-22 (CHClF<sub>2</sub>) production Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| title | Recent increases in the atmospheric growth rate and emissions of HFC-23 (CHF<sub>3</sub>) and the link to HCFC-22 (CHClF<sub>2</sub>) production |
| title_full | Recent increases in the atmospheric growth rate and emissions of HFC-23 (CHF<sub>3</sub>) and the link to HCFC-22 (CHClF<sub>2</sub>) production |
| title_fullStr | Recent increases in the atmospheric growth rate and emissions of HFC-23 (CHF<sub>3</sub>) and the link to HCFC-22 (CHClF<sub>2</sub>) production |
| title_full_unstemmed | Recent increases in the atmospheric growth rate and emissions of HFC-23 (CHF<sub>3</sub>) and the link to HCFC-22 (CHClF<sub>2</sub>) production |
| title_short | Recent increases in the atmospheric growth rate and emissions of HFC-23 (CHF<sub>3</sub>) and the link to HCFC-22 (CHClF<sub>2</sub>) production |
| title_sort | recent increases in the atmospheric growth rate and emissions of hfc 23 chf sub 3 sub and the link to hcfc 22 chclf sub 2 sub production |
| url | https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/18/4153/2018/acp-18-4153-2018.pdf |
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