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Rapid increase in dichloromethane emissions from China inferred through atmospheric observations.
- Source :
-
Nature communications [Nat Commun] 2021 Dec 14; Vol. 12 (1), pp. 7279. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Dec 14. - Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- With the successful implementation of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, the atmospheric abundance of ozone-depleting substances continues to decrease slowly and the Antarctic ozone hole is showing signs of recovery. However, growing emissions of unregulated short-lived anthropogenic chlorocarbons are offsetting some of these gains. Here, we report an increase in emissions from China of the industrially produced chlorocarbon, dichloromethane (CH <subscript>2</subscript> Cl <subscript>2</subscript> ). The emissions grew from 231 (213-245) Gg yr <superscript>-1</superscript> in 2011 to 628 (599-658) Gg yr <superscript>-1</superscript> in 2019, with an average annual increase of 13 (12-15) %, primarily from eastern China. The overall increase in CH <subscript>2</subscript> Cl <subscript>2</subscript> emissions from China has the same magnitude as the global emission rise of 354 (281-427) Gg yr <superscript>-1</superscript> over the same period. If global CH <subscript>2</subscript> Cl <subscript>2</subscript> emissions remain at 2019 levels, they could lead to a delay in Antarctic ozone recovery of around 5 years compared to a scenario with no CH <subscript>2</subscript> Cl <subscript>2</subscript> emissions.<br /> (© 2021. The Author(s).)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2041-1723
- Volume :
- 12
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Nature communications
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 34907196
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-27592-y