1. CFC‐12 Emissions in China Inferred From Observation and Inverse Modeling.
- Author
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Ma, Mengyue, Hu, Xiaoyi, Yao, Bo, Li, Bowei, An, Minde, and Fang, Xuekun
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OZONE-depleting substances , *EMISSION inventories , *GREENHOUSE gases , *OZONE layer , *CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS , *TROPOSPHERIC ozone ,VIENNA Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer (1985). Protocols, etc., 1987 Sept. 15 - Abstract
Dichlorodifluoromethane (CFC‐12) is an ozone‐depleting substance and potent greenhouse gas, which was required to be phased out after 2010 under the Montreal Protocol. CFC‐12 emissions need to be quantitatively traced. However, estimates of CFC‐12 emissions in China based on atmospheric inversions are unavailable after 2010. Here, using atmospheric observations at nine sites across China and inversion techniques, we quantify CFC‐12 emissions in China during 2011–2020 (on average 11.0 ± 0.6 Gg yr−1). The emissions derived from observations are 8.5 times larger than the previously reported inventories. Apart from emissions from eastern China revealed in previous studies, this study reveals that 71% of national total emissions were from other parts of China. Moreover, this study reconciled the global CFC‐12 emissions during 2011–2020: 28% were traced to China by this study, 9% of emissions were traced in previous studies, while 63% remain untraced, indicating the need for more regional emission inversion studies. Plain Language Summary: Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), well known as Freon, are damaging to the stratospheric ozone layer and are potent greenhouse gases. Dichlorodifluoromethane (CFC‐12; CCl2F2) is one of the major CFCs. The production and consumption of CFC‐12 are controlled under the regulations of the Montreal Protocol and have been phased out globally since 2010. As the largest developing country and once a major producer and consumer of CFC‐12, CFC‐12 emissions in China are of great interest. In this study, we quantified emissions of CFC‐12 in China during 2011–2020 based on atmospheric observations in a network of nine sites across China. We find that the emissions derived from atmospheric inversion are 8.5 times larger than the previous emission inventories estimated using production and consumption information, suggesting unaccounted‐for emissions occurring in China. Apart from emissions from eastern China revealed in previous studies, this study reveals that 71% of national total emissions were from other parts of China. The Chinese emissions of CFC‐12 accounted for 28% of global totals from 2011 to 2020. However, there is a big gap between the total CFC‐12 emission from China, western Europe, Australia, the United States, India, and global totals, suggesting that more regional atmospheric inversion estimates are encouraged. Key Points: China's Dichlorodifluoromethane (CFC‐12) emissions during 2011–2020 were quantified using atmospheric observations at nine sites across China and inverse modelingA quantitative depiction of spatial CFC‐12 emissions across China was provided by this study28% of global CFC‐12 emissions for 2011–2020 occurred in China, according to this study [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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