Global emissions of refrigerants HCFC-22 and HFC-134a: Unforeseen seasonal contributions
HCFC-22 (CHClF[subscript 2]) and HFC-134a (CH[subscript 2]FCF[subscript 3]) are two major gases currently used worldwide in domestic and commercial refrigeration and air conditioning. HCFC-22 contributes to stratospheric ozone depletion, and both species are potent greenhouse gases. In this work, we...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | en_US |
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National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)
2015
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/97423 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5925-3801 |
| _version_ | 1826213163457052672 |
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| author | Xiang, Bin Patra, Prabir K. Montzka, Stephen A. Miller, Scot M. Elkins, J. W. Moore, Fred L. Atlas, Elliot L. Miller, Benjamin R. Weiss, Ray F. Wofsy, Steven C. Prinn, Ronald G |
| author2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Center for Global Change Science |
| author_facet | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Center for Global Change Science Xiang, Bin Patra, Prabir K. Montzka, Stephen A. Miller, Scot M. Elkins, J. W. Moore, Fred L. Atlas, Elliot L. Miller, Benjamin R. Weiss, Ray F. Wofsy, Steven C. Prinn, Ronald G |
| author_sort | Xiang, Bin |
| collection | MIT |
| description | HCFC-22 (CHClF[subscript 2]) and HFC-134a (CH[subscript 2]FCF[subscript 3]) are two major gases currently used worldwide in domestic and commercial refrigeration and air conditioning. HCFC-22 contributes to stratospheric ozone depletion, and both species are potent greenhouse gases. In this work, we study in situ observations of HCFC-22 and HFC-134a taken from research aircraft over the Pacific Ocean in a 3-y span [HIaper-Pole-to-Pole Observations (HIPPO) 2009–2011] and combine these data with long-term ground observations from global surface sites [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Advanced Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment (AGAGE) networks]. We find the global annual emissions of HCFC-22 and HFC-134a have increased substantially over the past two decades. Emissions of HFC-134a are consistently higher compared with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) inventory since 2000, by 60% more in recent years (2009–2012). Apart from these decadal emission constraints, we also quantify recent seasonal emission patterns showing that summertime emissions of HCFC-22 and HFC-134a are two to three times higher than wintertime emissions. This unforeseen large seasonal variation indicates that unaccounted mechanisms controlling refrigerant gas emissions are missing in the existing inventory estimates. Possible mechanisms enhancing refrigerant losses in summer are (i) higher vapor pressure in the sealed compartment of the system at summer high temperatures and (ii) more frequent use and service of refrigerators and air conditioners in summer months. Our results suggest that engineering (e.g., better temperature/vibration-resistant system sealing and new system design of more compact/efficient components) and regulatory (e.g., reinforcing system service regulations) steps to improve containment of these gases from working devices could effectively reduce their release to the atmosphere. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-23T15:44:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | mit-1721.1/97423 |
| institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| language | en_US |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-23T15:44:20Z |
| publishDate | 2015 |
| publisher | National Academy of Sciences (U.S.) |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | mit-1721.1/974232024-05-15T05:48:55Z Global emissions of refrigerants HCFC-22 and HFC-134a: Unforeseen seasonal contributions Xiang, Bin Patra, Prabir K. Montzka, Stephen A. Miller, Scot M. Elkins, J. W. Moore, Fred L. Atlas, Elliot L. Miller, Benjamin R. Weiss, Ray F. Wofsy, Steven C. Prinn, Ronald G Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Center for Global Change Science Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences Prinn, Ronald G. HCFC-22 (CHClF[subscript 2]) and HFC-134a (CH[subscript 2]FCF[subscript 3]) are two major gases currently used worldwide in domestic and commercial refrigeration and air conditioning. HCFC-22 contributes to stratospheric ozone depletion, and both species are potent greenhouse gases. In this work, we study in situ observations of HCFC-22 and HFC-134a taken from research aircraft over the Pacific Ocean in a 3-y span [HIaper-Pole-to-Pole Observations (HIPPO) 2009–2011] and combine these data with long-term ground observations from global surface sites [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Advanced Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment (AGAGE) networks]. We find the global annual emissions of HCFC-22 and HFC-134a have increased substantially over the past two decades. Emissions of HFC-134a are consistently higher compared with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) inventory since 2000, by 60% more in recent years (2009–2012). Apart from these decadal emission constraints, we also quantify recent seasonal emission patterns showing that summertime emissions of HCFC-22 and HFC-134a are two to three times higher than wintertime emissions. This unforeseen large seasonal variation indicates that unaccounted mechanisms controlling refrigerant gas emissions are missing in the existing inventory estimates. Possible mechanisms enhancing refrigerant losses in summer are (i) higher vapor pressure in the sealed compartment of the system at summer high temperatures and (ii) more frequent use and service of refrigerators and air conditioners in summer months. Our results suggest that engineering (e.g., better temperature/vibration-resistant system sealing and new system design of more compact/efficient components) and regulatory (e.g., reinforcing system service regulations) steps to improve containment of these gases from working devices could effectively reduce their release to the atmosphere. 2015-06-15T17:28:02Z 2015-06-15T17:28:02Z 2014-12 2014-09 Article http://purl.org/eprint/type/JournalArticle 0027-8424 1091-6490 http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/97423 Xiang, Bin, Prabir K. Patra, Stephen A. Montzka, Scot M. Miller, James W. Elkins, Fred L. Moore, Elliot L. Atlas, et al. “Global Emissions of Refrigerants HCFC-22 and HFC-134a: Unforeseen Seasonal Contributions.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 111, no. 49 (November 24, 2014): 17379–17384. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5925-3801 en_US http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1417372111 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use. application/pdf National Academy of Sciences (U.S.) National Academy of Sciences (U.S.) |
| spellingShingle | Xiang, Bin Patra, Prabir K. Montzka, Stephen A. Miller, Scot M. Elkins, J. W. Moore, Fred L. Atlas, Elliot L. Miller, Benjamin R. Weiss, Ray F. Wofsy, Steven C. Prinn, Ronald G Global emissions of refrigerants HCFC-22 and HFC-134a: Unforeseen seasonal contributions |
| title | Global emissions of refrigerants HCFC-22 and HFC-134a: Unforeseen seasonal contributions |
| title_full | Global emissions of refrigerants HCFC-22 and HFC-134a: Unforeseen seasonal contributions |
| title_fullStr | Global emissions of refrigerants HCFC-22 and HFC-134a: Unforeseen seasonal contributions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Global emissions of refrigerants HCFC-22 and HFC-134a: Unforeseen seasonal contributions |
| title_short | Global emissions of refrigerants HCFC-22 and HFC-134a: Unforeseen seasonal contributions |
| title_sort | global emissions of refrigerants hcfc 22 and hfc 134a unforeseen seasonal contributions |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/97423 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5925-3801 |
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